All About Fire - No one supports you like IFEDA

IFEDA website update

2012-02-03T15:34:00.000Z

I have re-instated the IFEDA web-page that will allow you to purchase British Standards direct. On the IFEDA home page is a tab called products, when you hover above it with your mouse another tab will appear called BSI. Clicking on BSI will take you to our updated webpage and a list of the most used/requested standards for the fire industry.
Any problems please let me know –all appeared fine when I checked it.

IFEDA - Extinguisher Technician Refresher Course - Glasgow

2012-01-20T14:26:00.002Z

BS5306-3 : 2009 requires that fire extinguisher technicians renew their certificate every three years. To this end there will be a one day extinguisher refresher course at the Holiday Inn Express, West Nile Street, Glasgow on Thursday 10th May 2012. The cost of the course for Non- IFEDA members £160 + vat. Please note the IFEDA extinguisher training courses are recognised by BAFE as per BS5306-3 : 2009 annex A.

The cost of the course includes; comprehensive training manual, certificate and refreshments.To check any details re the syllabus please click here.

If you are interested in this course, in the first instance, please reply by email to grahamferris@ifeda.org

New RSS feed on this website

2011-12-22T11:42:00.003Z

Now you can catch up on all the latest from Fire Net via the RSS link in the left-hand column

IFEDA and Prostate cancer

2011-12-20T12:33:00.002Z

Thanks to everyone who donated to Prostate cancer via my just giving page - a rather steady but disappointing 7 pounds weight loss (to coincide with Movember, see earleir post) but we raised £107.00 plus £15.50 of gift aid means a total of £122.50 to a very worthwhile charity - I shall carry on the good work but the page itself is now closed. Thanks again.

IFEDA course dates and information 2012

2011-12-19T17:07:00.002Z

IFEDA's course information and training dates can be found on the main IFEDA website - if you are in possession of a magnifying glass the information is reproduced below:-

IFEDA training brochure 2012 + dates

2011-12-19T17:01:00.005Z

IFEDA's training course brochure 2012 part 2.....

2011-12-19T17:00:00.003Z

IFEDA's training course brochure 2012 con't.....

2011-12-19T16:57:00.003Z

Latest edition of FireTalk

2011-12-16T16:35:00.003Z

The latest edition of FireTalk, IFEDA'S newsletter, is available to view via http://www.ifeda.org/?page_id=19 detailing news from the highly successful agm and national conference, FSO breaches and members news including a new benefit for IFEDA members.

Sony TV alert

2011-11-16T16:37:00.002Z

Not a new alert, I missed it when it came out a couple of weeks ago but just in case you did too it is worth posting as a public serivce document.

Sony has issued a warning over 1.6 million of its television sets after faulty parts caused a number to emit smoke and start melting.
The technology firm denied there had been a recall but said people with certain models of Bravia LCD TVs could bring their sets in for free checks - following incidents reported in Japan.
Sony said a limited number of the TVs might contain a component that could overheat and ignite inside the set, causing the upper casing to melt.
"To date, there have been no reports of any damage to other property or physical injuries," the company added.
The affected televisions were manufactured in 2007 and 2008 and were mostly sold in Europe and the US.
The model numbers are:
KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660, KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000 and KDL-40X3500.
Sony advises people who own one of these sets to take it to their nearest Sony service centre for a free inspection and, if necessary, a free repair.
Owners of Sony TVs can check the model number of their set by looking at the label on the back.
"If you own one of the products mentioned above and if you notice any abnormality (e.g. unusual noise, unusual smell or smoking), please turn it off immediately, unplug the power cable, stop using the TV, and contact us," Sony said.
"We have confirmed that this symptom does not occur when power is switched off."*
It added: "In the unlikely event that you are affected by the issues above, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."

IFEDA says – *the above would appear to be a good reason not to leave any electrical units on standby, not just televisions, when they cannot be monitored for unexpected faults etc.

Places on Fire Hose Reel Course

2011-11-15T10:47:00.002Z

There are a couple of places left on the IFEDA 1 day fire hose reel maintenance course to be held on Friday 16th December (not 17th as stated below) at our Stockport training centre nr Manchester. Syllabus as per BS671-3 : 2009. For more details please see the IFEDA website

Successful candidates receive a certificate of competence.

IFEDA: fighting for the interests of its members and the fire industry

2011-11-04T14:40:00.001Z

PRESS RELEASE
4 November 2011
IFEDA VOICES CONCERN OVER FIRE EXTINGUISHER REMOVAL

IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association, is questioning the reasoning behind the recent removal of fire extinguishers in a property maintained by Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP). Residents at the property have allegedly been told that the removal of fire extinguishers from common areas of their block of flats was for their own safety.
Nigel Walton, Chairman of IFEDA, commented: "IFEDA would question what available evidence demonstrates that the removal of fire extinguishers would enhance residents’ safety. Providing the correct type of fire extinguisher is in place, as determined by British Standard 5306 PT8, the likelihood of using the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire is minimal. It would be unlikely that dry powder extinguishers would be used in communal evacuation routes, for example, a stairwell. Therefore the risk from obscured vision and breathing difficulties due to dust is minimal. Surely the sensible option would be to inform residents about the practical use of handling a fire extinguisher, rather than removing them altogether."
Walton continued: "All fires start small. Where a fire can safely be extinguished by the correct use of a fire extinguisher, then this can clearly minimise the massive damage fire can cause. Extinguishers play a vital role in the prevention of fire spreading."

Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA added his concerns by saying: "Recent surveys, (Eurofeu/IFEDA 2002 and IFEDA 2008) across Europe and in the UK, have established that approximately 80% of fires are extinguished before they get out of hand, by the use of portable fire extinguishers, even where the operator has had no formal training in their use. Any fire, given the time to take hold, can cause untold damage to property. The resulting additional costs in insurance, re-build, re-homing, in addition to damage to the environment, through the pollution and release of toxins, surely is argument enough that the safe placement and use of a fire extinguisher is the sensible option. They not only help contain
the fire, providing crucial additional minutes to escape, but can also help minimise the damage fire can cause."

IFEDA, as an independent trade association, promotes quality standards and procedures within the fire safety industry.

Another great reason to join IFEDA

2011-10-31T14:50:00.002Z

PRESS RELEASE
31 October 2011

IFEDA MEMBERS FEEL THE BENEFIT
IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association, recognising the need to offer additional benefits of membership that add tangible value to its many members, has introduced a free bespoke HR advice and assistance service.

The service, provided by Fitzpatrick Wilkes & Co, is designed to assist member companies, many of whom employ staff but don’t always have the access to specialist in house HR expertise, with their HR queries. Fitzpatrick Wilkes specialises in assisting small and medium businesses with their HR requirements; Pauline Wilkes from Fitzpatrick Wilkes says: "With our expertise and knowledge of the HR issues affecting small businesses we are delighted to be working with IFEDA to provide bespoke advice to members on their specific HR queries."

The HR service comprises an HR audit, which enables Fitzpatrick Wilkes to assess the policies and procedures currently in place, and identify any areas which may be lacking, or require very specific policies. This audit ensures that any subsequent advice provided is bespoke to the member, and completely fits their business needs and requirements. The initial audit, which can be conducted via the telephone or in person, can then be followed up with 3 free phone calls which are included as part of this benefit.

Graham Ferris, general manager at IFEDA commented: "Offering a personalised service to our members is an added benefit of membership that provides real value. Many members have HR queries from time to time, and to be able to tailor a package that answers their very specific needs, rather than a general answer, is a real bonus. We’re delighted to be working with Fitzpatrick Wilkes on this collaboration."

IFEDA, as an independent trade association, promotes quality standards and procedures within the fire safety industry.
Further details about IFEDA can be found at www.ifeda.org or by emailing info@ifeda.org.
ENDS

For media information, images and interviews contact:
Kay Pendell-Smith
ps marketing
Tel: 01296 394729

IFEDA, supporting prostate charity for Movember

2011-10-19T14:49:00.005+01:00

Being the General Manager of a trade association in what is a male dominated sector of British industry I am saddened by the number of times I hear about prostate and testicular cancer especially when it affects IFEDA's members and/or their family. I was made aware that the technicians of IFEDA member Fire Crest Protection down in Cornwall are growing moustaches as their way of raising awareness and funds for this worthwhile charity in what is known as movember.
On behalf of IFEDA I to am going to support their efforts for movember BUT having seen the attached photo from the IFEDA agm of 15 October I am intending to lose a substantial amount of weight and invite you to donate to the disappearing pounds.
I am weighing in at 14 stone and 8 pounds (verified by my incorruptible wife) you may wish to sponsor me for every pound lost from today until Thursday 1st December.
Neither I nor IFEDA take or use any of your donation - it will go via the links below to the Prostate Cancer Charity
My just giving page can be found at http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Ferris
Or via the associated Facebook page at http://apps.facebook.com/jgdonation/Graham-Ferris/on-facebook
If you fancy supporting this charity by growing your own moustache you can read more about MOVEMBER at http://uk.movember.com/about or even sponsor the guys at Fire Crest.

IFEDA elects new national chairman

2011-10-18T15:19:00.003+01:00

IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association, has elected a new Chairman for the association at their recent AGM.
Nigel Walton, Director at Abbot Fire Group, steps into the role having been an active member of the association for the past 9 years.
Walton said: "I am thrilled to accept this new role. It’s an honour to have received the backing from my industry colleagues with their unanimous votes of support. My thanks go to the previous Chairman for his work and commitment, and I look forward to enhancing the work IFEDA does. Working with both members of the association, and the fire industry as a whole, I look forward to achieving IFEDA’s aim of continually raising standards and procedures within the fire industry."

The AGM was followed by the IFEDA Annual Conference, where the association members benefit from talks by key industry speakers and presenters about information and legislation relevant to their industry.

Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA, commented: "This year we received a huge amount of positive feedback from those members who attended the information sessions, not only in relation to the very varied topics, but also how the information can help with the running of their own businesses."
Rui Soreto, from Everlux Masterlux, flew in from Portugal to give a timely presentation on the recently published BS ISO 7010: 2011 which covers graphical symbols, safety colours and signs, and registered safety signs.
This year’s speakers also included Ron Reid from Shoosmiths, the law firm, who commented: "It was clear to me that members took a real interest in the presentations and asked intelligent and searching questions of presenters to broaden not only their own knowledge but for the benefit of all." IFEDA members also benefitted from a presentation from Stephen Adams, General and Marketing Manager, from BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment), who discussed the latest schemes and marketing news.

IFEDA, as an independent trade association, promotes quality standards and procedures within the fire safety industry.
Further details can be found at www.ifeda.org or by emailing info@ifeda.org.

Fire Safety Breaches in Southampton

2011-09-09T14:02:00.002+01:00

The owner of a takeaway shop has had to pay almost £12,000 in fines after pleading guilty to five breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Iskender Anik, owner of the Istanbul Grill in Eastleigh, appeared at Southampton magistrates court on 1 September, where he pleaded guilty to breaching a prohibition order by allowing sleeping in accommodation above the shop. He also pleaded guilty to having no adequate means of giving warning in case of fire, inadequate protection to means of escape, inadequate provision of emergency lighting and failure to maintain fire resisting separation between the ground floor and first floor.
He was fined £3,300 for breaching the prohibition order and £2,100 for each of the remaining four offences.
Area manager Mick Crennell of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“We will continue to protect our communities through a robust risk management process that identifies the areas of highest risk and takes necessary steps to ensure their continued safety.
“Prohibition orders are only issued in the most severe circumstances, to prevent a risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire; breaching these orders can have very serious consequences.”
IFEDA comment. The Fire Safety Order has been with us since 2006. Ignorance is no excuse. A business or buildings Responsible Person is duty bound to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. An FRA will identity problems and suggest how they can be overcome or rectified. If you need a fire risk assessment IFEDA has many members all over the UK offering this type of service: please email or contact the National Office for help.

IFEDA press release: jailing of fire risk assessor

2011-07-13T09:46:00.000+01:00

Don’t risk your business reputation

The recent prosecution of a Fire Risk Assessor, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, acts as a stark warning for those businesses not complying with fire regulations, and particularly for those companies offering fire risk assessments as part of their business operations.

IFEDA, The Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association, continues to champion for 3rd party accreditation for this important aspect of fire safety. Clear precise guidelines allowing fire risk assessors to demonstrate their expertise, experience and competence would undoubtedly offer consistency and re-assurance throughout the fire safety industry.

Colin Payne, Chairman of IFEDA says “It is a sobering thought for anyone who undertakes fire risk assessments that the outcome could result in a criminal record. IFEDA is committed to raising standards within the fire industry and we continue to push for 3rd party accreditation; this unfortunate incident proves that such 3rd party accreditation can’t come quickly enough.”

A comprehensive written fire risk assessment enables businesses to act upon any shortfalls, and crucially provides written documentation that this essential part of fire safety planning has been undertaken. Payne continues “Any fire protection company who undertakes fire risk assessment, or uses a sub-contractor to do so, must look at the competency of the individuals providing them.”

IFEDA, as an independent trade association, promotes quality standards and procedures within the fire safety industry.

Further details can be found at www.ifeda.org or by emailing info@ifeda.org.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:
IFEDA (the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) was formed in 1989 with the key aim of promoting professionalism and quality standards within the fire safety industry.

IFEDA run fire training courses and provide support on fire safety issues, in addition to publishing the quarterly newsletter, Fire Talk, which keeps members up-to-date with relevant legislation changes, and recent prosecutions.

In May 2011 the IFEDA Dry riser course was ‘highly commended’ in the Best Training Initiative category of the Fire Excellence Awards 2011.

Further details can be found at: www.ifeda.org.

For media information, images and interviews contact:

Kay Pendell-Smith
ps marketing

Tel: 01296 394729

First fire risk assessor jailed for breaches of the FSO.

2011-07-13T09:44:00.000+01:00

A fire risk assessor and a hotel manager have been jailed for eight months for breaches of the FSO.
David Liu, who runs The Dial Hotel and Market Inn, both in Mansfield, had previously pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to 15 offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, while John O’Rourke of Mansfield Fire Protection Services pleaded guilty to two offences under the legislation. The Judge said that the time had come to send out a message to those who conduct fire risk assessments, and to hoteliers who are prepared to put profit before safety.
Officers from Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service visited both hotels as part of a routine inspection. They found that both premises were being used to provide sleeping accommodation on the upper floors and that fire precautions, which should have been provided to safeguard the occupants in the event of a fire, were inadequate.
Due to the serious risk to life, they issued prohibition notices preventing any further use of both premises for sleeping accommodation until suitable improvements had been made.
Mr O’Rourke was prosecuted because he had prepared fire risk assessments for both premises. However, the prosecution stated, that the fire risk assessments failed to identify a number of significant deficiencies which would have placed the occupants at serious risk in the event of a fire.
The offences (common to both hotels) which Mr Liu, as the responsible person, pleaded guilty to were:
a. A lack of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
b. A failure to ensure effective means of escape with doors leading onto corridors not being fire resisting or having self-closers fitted
c. A failure to ensure that emergency routes and exits were provided with emergency lighting
d. A failure to ensure the premises were equipped with appropriate firefighting equipment, detectors and alarms in that there was no fire detection within the bedrooms
e. A failure to ensure that equipment and devices provided were subject to a suitable system of maintenance in that the fire alarm system, emergency lighting system and firefighting equipment were not tested.
In addition at the Dial Hotel, officers found both staircases from upper levels terminating in the same ground floor area with no alternative escape routes or separation, a locked fire exit door, and exit routes obstructed by combustible materials.
The other offence at the Market Inn related to a missing fire door and a window not being fire resisting.
As well as jailing Mr. Liu he was also ordered to pay costs of £15,000.
John O’Rourke, as a person other than the responsible person who had some control of the premises, pleaded guilty to two counts (one for each hotel) of failing to provide a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. He was also ordered to pay costs of £5,860.

IFEDA concerned at neglect of fire safety

2011-06-27T11:38:00.002+01:00

An article in the Sunday Independent reveals that fire safety is being neglected.

Firms charged with the upkeep of blocks of flats – known as managing agents – could be putting occupants at risk, according to a leading property management company.
By law, any block of flats with common areas should undertake health and safety and fire risk assessments, typically on an annual basis, and have electrical installations assessed every five years. The property must also be surveyed for asbestos and, if found, monitored regularly.
However, property firm Urban Owners has found that 56 per cent of flats in the UK do not undergo a fire risk assessment, and up to 93 per cent do not have their electrics tested. More than 80 per cent of properties had never been inspected for asbestos.
“The lax attitude of many managing agents towards safety is unacceptable,” said Steve Wylie, director of property firm Urban Owners. “Unprofessional firms are routinely neglecting their legal responsibilities.”
There are an estimated 1.8 million flats and properties in the UK which are owned on a leasehold basis and are overseen by managing agents.
IFEDA wonders if, as well as having to have the correct and adequate insurance cover in place managing agents shouldn't also have to prove competency in H & S issues (including fire risk assessments) too?

IFEDA - Extinguisher Technician Refresher Course - Glasgow

2011-06-08T12:34:00.002+01:00

There will be a one day extinguisher refresher course in at the Holiday Inn Express, West Nile Street, Glasgow on Tuesday 20th September 2011.

The cost of the course for Non- IFEDA members £162 + vat.

Please note the IFEDA extinguisher training courses are recognised by BAFE as per BS5306-3 : 2009 annex A.

The cost of the course includes; comprehensive training manual, certificate and refreshments.
To check any details re the syllabus please click here.
If you are interested in this course, in the first instance, please reply by email to grahamferris@ifeda.org

Cut-backs compromising safety?

2011-05-03T10:58:00.003+01:00

The on-line newspaper 'this is Devon' reports:-

Government to cut funding for special fire alert sea teams

Funding to fight fires and tackle chemical spills off the coast of South Devon has been axed by the Government sparking warnings 'vital' at-sea emergency cover will end.
Whitehall officials have confirmed cash for specialist firefighting teams trained to deal with 999 maritime incidents has been slashed as part of a wide-ranging cost-cutting drive.
Fire chiefs have told MPs they expect crews will no longer be able to respond to emergencies aboard vessels, leaving significant areas of the UK coast without coverage.
Ministers have justified the funding cut by saying the teams have not been involved in any major incidents since being formed five years ago.
It comes at the same time as the Government plans to slash the number of coastguard stations and downgrade others. It is also proposed to scrap the provision of emergency tugs.
The raft of cutbacks is currently the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.
The Maritime Incident Response Group has teams drawn from 15 fire and rescue services including Cornwall, which covers the South West coastline.
They respond to incidents 'where there is risk to life or high environmental risk for which fire fighting, chemical hazard and/or rescue teams may be required'.
In written evidence to the Transport Select Committee, the Chief Fire Officers Association stated: "It is anticipated that individual MIRG FRSs will not be able to provide a response to these incidents if funding is withdrawn.
"On that basis there may be no provision for FRS deployment to vessels at sea within significant areas of the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Region."
Even if services decided to maintain provision, the association said there would be no 'integrated response' as currently exists.
In its submission, the group said: "The Fire Service provides a professional application to the role of firefighting at sea and has the pre-eminent capability to fulfil this role. This has been demonstrated at various incidents over the years."
It said of the response group: "The uniqueness of this project, the first of its kind in the world, culminated in the provision of an integrated, interagency national strategy for dealing with incidents in the maritime environment."
The association said: "This is a vital and much valued element of UK search and rescue providing an additional resource to UK maritime resilience."
An independent review was carried out into the work of the response group last year.
While it concluded there was no legal duty for the coastguard or rescue service to provide a response to fires onboard vessels 'at sea', it added: "The risk assessment has confirmed that a response is needed around most of the UK, to attend and contain vessel fires with the purpose of preventing loss of life."
It added that 'eliminating the provision is not considered an option' in the context of the identified risk.
Shipping minister Mike Penning has defended cutting cash to provide at sea fire cover.
He said: "Since the Maritime Incident Response Group teams began operating in 2006 they have not been involved in any significant incidents, which is why we announced during the Comprehensive Spending Review that we would be reviewing this funding stream."

IFEDA notes that in an era of cut-backs and budget restrictions, now more than ever (and irrespective of whether your propety is situated on land or at sea) it is the time to ensure that appropriate fire extinguishers are installed and maintained by a competent person, your fire risk assessment is up-to-date and fire alarms are functioning as required. IFEDA has third party accreditied members across the UK who can help - some also offering a marine facility.

IFEDA IS RIDING HIGH AS TRAINING INITIATIVE IS SHORTLISTED

2011-04-14T14:36:00.004+01:00

The Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association (IFEDA) is delighted to have been shortlisted in the Best Training Initiative category of the renowned Fire Excellence Awards 2011.

Committed to raising standards within the fire industry, IFEDA was shortlisted for this prestigious award, in recognition of their new, ground breaking dry riser training course. Having identified a clear gap in the marketplace for an approved dry riser maintenance course that not only tested the theory of dry risers, but also the practical elements of servicing them, they successfully brought to market a suitable course that could be measured against BS9990: 2006. A purpose-build dry riser stack was commissioned and built by IFEDA member Giles Payne. Payne come up with a stack that comprised all the necessary components, enabling it to be charged with water to the required pressure, allowing technicians to be assessed on the practical servicing of dry risers as required in the British Standards six monthly and annual checks.

The purpose built dry riser stack (right), designed to provide practical hands on experience and assessment of dry riser technicians.

Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for an award that has a huge amount of competition. The dry riser course has proved so popular that we’ve had to triple the number of times we were due to run it this year.

The introduction of this course is part of the continuing commitment of IFEDA to raising standards within the fire industry.” The two day course which includes theory, one-to-one practical tuition, together with an examination, is available to both IFEDA members and non-members.

Further details of the course can be found at http://www.ifeda.org/ or by emailing info@ifeda.org.

Care Home Manager Fined: Breach of FSO

2011-04-01T11:52:00.002+01:00

Following the successful prosecution of a fire alarm technician (see this blog 24th December 2010) there have been further developments i.e:- A CARE home manager who was in charge when a fire alarm was silenced during a blaze has been convicted of a safety breach. Karen Sykes, 41, of Brooklands Road, Sale, appeared before Manchester Crown Court under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following the fire at Oldfield Bank Residential Care Home in Highgate Road, Altrincham. The court heard how fire broke out in May 2009 when Sykes was duty manager. The fire alarm went off at about 6pm, the alarm was silenced but Sykes failed to ensure that a proper search of the premises was carried out. A fire was later discovered in room 25 and a 999 call was made at about 7.15pm. The alarm was discovered in 'silence' mode when crew from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arrived to tackle the blaze. Elderly resident Beryl West died following the fire and an inquest into her death is scheduled to be heard by Stockport Coroner in April. In sentencing Sykes, who was fined £500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, Judge Justice Lakin said: "My duty is clear. I have to apply the law. As the manager of the care home it was Sykes responsibility for the fire alarm and evacuation." Previously fire alarm engineer Christopher Morris, 56, of Llandudno, North Wales, has already been sentenced in relation to the same incident and was ordered to pay £5000, with £6000 being awarded to the Authority. Assistant County Fire Officer from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Peter O'Reilly said: "This case clearly highlights and enforces the message that employees have a duty to ensure the safety of the people they are looking after. This type of behaviour simply isn't acceptable and we should not forget that an elderly resident in Sykes care died that night."This is the first time an employee has been prosecuted under this legislation, as opposed to the employer, and I am proud of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue for bringing this about." IFEDA fully supports Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and all other fire authorities in their efforts to enforce all aspects of the FSO.

Nitrogen Regulators and CP23

2011-04-01T08:59:00.011+01:00

Readers may like to be aware of the following from Nick Jones of Express Fire in Manchester and the attached leaflet.

“Many service engineers may not be aware of The British Compressed Gases Association’s Code of Practice (CP23) ‘Application of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 to Industrial and Medical Pressure Systems’ which includes a requirement to replace regulators every five years with a new or refurbished unit or to refurbish the regulator with approved spare parts.

Express Fire has recently been working with one of their suppliers to develop a new nitrogen regulator and they are of the opinion that it would be more cost effective to replace the regulators with new every five years for engineers.

As you will see from the information below, the TITAN regulator (pictured left) has a maximum pressure of 20 bar which means that it offers increased safety for operators as it reduces the risk of accidental over pressuring of extinguishers. Whilst available to all customers, as a member of IFEDA, Express Fire would be pleased to offer an introductory 10% discount to all other IFEDA members who wish to purchase the regulator meaning that they can purchase for only £117.00 each plus VAT (plus any applicable carriage charge as detailed in our Terms and Conditions) rather than the standard list price of £130.00.”

Please contact Nick and his team at Express Fire directly for more information or to make a purchase – details below.

Nick Jones Express Fire Equipment Ltd.

Units 3-4 Mersey Road Industrial Estate, Mersey Road North, Failsworth,

Manchester, M35 9LU.

Tel: 0161 688 5050 Fax: 0161 688 5151

Website address: http://www.expressfire.com/

Email address: nick@expressfire.com

Express Fire Equipment Ltd. Is registered in England and Wales No. 4183211.

Are your Nitrogen Regulators and delivery hoses in Date?

The British Compressed Gases Association states within Code of Practice CP23 titled “Application of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 to Industrial and Medical Pressure Systems Installed at User Premises” that all of the following equipment shall be subject to the following inspection and replacement schedule.

Written Scheme of Examination for Pressure Systems Attached to Transportable Pressure Vessels:-

Plant/Equipment - Examination Period - Guidelines for written scheme of examination.

Hoses (Non-metallic Lined for High Pressure Gas Cylinders) 5 Years (a) Replace with new item. (b) Record replacement

Hoses – Stainless Steel (For High Pressure Cylinders) 5 Year (a) Replace with new item. (b) Record replacement

Process Relief Valves 6 Year (a) Visual, external examination (reference Appendix 6). (b) Replace valve with new or refurbished unit. (c) Record all details of examination.

Flame Arrestors 5 Year or suppliers’ recommendation (a) Replace with new or refurbished unit. (b) Record all details of examination

Regulators and their inter-stage/outlet integral Protective devices 5 Year (a) Replace with new or refurbished unit, or (b) Refurbish with approved spare parts kit and functionally check.

The new Titan High Pressure single stage regulators offer a compact option for applications with high outlet pressure requirements of up to 20bar. Used in a wide range of applications from high pressure testing and purging to charging fire extinguishers this regulator is a versatile option for many process gas applications. In addition the regulator features a ball control valve at the delivery outlet port. The regulators cannot deliver more than 20bar, which is high enough to safely pressurise all portable fire extinguishers whilst greatly reducing the risk of accidental over pressurising the extinguisher. Date stamped 2016 Available now from Express Fire Equipment Ltd. Special 10% discount for IFEDA members. Prices are valid until 31st December 2011 - Unit just £130* + vat

*Any prices quoted exclude any applicable carriage charges as detailed in Express Fires terms & conditions to be found on the Express Fire website - prices valid till 31st December 2011

Flexitec from Flameskill

2011-03-31T16:18:00.012+01:00

Detailed below is one of the products/services provided by IFEDA member Flameskill, based over in Great Yarmouth, for more information please contact them on 01493-440464

Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment

What is Flexitec? Flexitec is a self seeking automatic fire extinguishing

system that requires no electrical power to operate. In the event of

a fire the tube will rupture at the hot spot and discharge the

extinguisher contents directly on to the source of the fire.

How it works Flexitec Systems uses a specialised polymer detection tube which is pressurised. The tube is routed through the compartment that needs protecting, secured in place with fixings, thus being right at the source of any fire. When a fire occurs and either touches the tubing or the heat is sufficiently high enough, the Flexitec tube wall softens and bursts at the hottest point allowing the extinguishing medium to extinguish the fire at source.

Advantages of Flexitec * Flexitec is simple and inexpensive to fit. * Flexitec does not rely on any electrical or moving parts * Extinguishes a fire at the source via the Flexitec tubing * Offers 24/7 protection. * Pressure switches can be fitted to automatically shut-down any machinery, systems or sound alarm. * Flexitec Systems are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 1kg to 6kg. * Different extinguishing mediums are available to suit the application.

Applications Flexitec systems can be used to protect many mirco-environments,

Electrical cabinets, Controls & CNC Machines Server cabinets, computers, welding machines, food industry

Vehicles/Boats Buses, trucks, emergency vehicles, marine craft, trains

Industrial Equipment Plant machinery, farming machinery, forklifts

Letter boxes Bins, safes, vending machines

IFEDA - Training courses Aprl/May

2011-03-21T14:25:00.002Z

IFEDA training courses April/May

3 Day initial training course - fire extinguisher technician training - BAFE recognised.
Members £540-00 Non-Members £640-00

Course number 3.070.1 19/20/21st April, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire
Course number 3.071.1 17/18/19th May, 2011 at Fareham, Hampshire

1 day refresher course – fire extinguisher technician training – BAFE recognised (for holders of recognised certificates only).
Members £157-00 Non-Members £182-00

Course number R073.1 18th April, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire
Course number R074.1 16th May, 2011 at Fareham, Hampshire

N.B for companies remote from Fareham and Stockport it is possible to run refresher courses at your premises for a minimum number of technicians. Please contact Graham to discuss via the 01280 number below or by reply to this email.

Fire hose reel servicing course & examination
Members £255-00 Non-Members £285-00
Course number HR.019.1 24th June, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire
Course number HR.020.1 21st October, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire

Dry riser servicing course & examination
Members £305-00 Non-Members £355-00
Course number DR.02.1 17/18th May, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire FULLY BOOKED
Course number DR.03.1 12/13th July, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire
Course number DR.04.1 20/21st September, 2011 at Stockport, Cheshire
If you wish to book for any of the above please contact IFEDA on 02380 513326 or send an email info@ifeda.org

Fire Awareness: Train the Trainer course from IFEDA

2011-03-21T09:58:00.002Z

Having installed the fire extinguishers are you able or confident enough to train and educate your customers’ staff via structured workshops? Could you run a fire warden training course? Would you like to add this to your portfolio of services and have another source of revenue? If so IFEDA is running the following comprehensive, 3 day course on Tuesday 24th – Thursday 25th May at Stockport, Cheshire.

Train the trainer : Fire awareness trainers course
This course is designed to provide persons responsible for, or who undertake fire awareness training with the knowledge, skills and confidence to undertake the task professionally.
The course is followed by a ‘closed-book’ examination, marked to test the student’s understanding and knowledge retention.

Successful candidates will be competent to:
• Design, plan and carry out basic fire awareness training
• Instruct their students in the theory of fire, its requirements, breakdown and prevention
• To instruct in the identification of portable fire extinguishers and demonstrate their use
• To advise on the requirements of basic fire legislation
• To inform and advise on emergency escape routes, exits, assembly and personnel control procedures that need to be established to
ensure orderly and safe evacuation in the event of fire
• To establish and maintain records necessary to comply with fire safety legislation
• To instruct individuals in respect of their responsibility and duty to keep themselves safe in respect of fire

Duration: 3 days
Held at the Stockport training centre
Course cost:
IFEDA Members £540.00 ex VAT
Non-members £640.00 ex VAT
Course includes:
The course fee includes all elements of tuition including the examination, a comprehensive manual, a certificate of competence
(for successful candidates), lunch and refreshments; but excludes accommodation and travel costs.
To book please contact Karen at the National Office on info@ifeda.org or via 02380 513326

Fined for burning trade waste

2011-03-15T08:40:00.001Z

The owner of a Somerset garden centre has been ordered to pay more than £15,700 in fines and costs for illegally burning trade waste.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency. On 14 January 2010 two Environment Agency officers visited the Rocky Mountain Garden Centre in Masbury to investigate a report of illegal waste burning. They found no evidence of burning, but noticed there were very few waste collection facilities on site.
Following their visit the officers wrote to the owner, Terence Bailey, asking him to provide the Environment Agency with all the waste transfer notes for all waste removed from the garden centre for the preceding two years. This was to establish whether waste had been collected and disposed of correctly.
Mr Bailey replied saying that as a small business with an annual turnover of approximately £550,000 and producing around six tonnes of waste a year, he didn’t think he needed to keep waste transfer notes. He told the Agency he would “be clearing a lot off the site very shortly”.
It was pointed out to Mr Bailey that the Rocky Mountain Garden Centre was located in an extremely sensitive area for groundwater and any pollutants entering the ground could contaminate public water supplies.
On 27 January 2010 Agency officers returned to the site and inspected land opposite the garden centre, also owned by the defendant. They found a large pile of burnt waste covering an area of ground approximately 8m by 2.5m and some 2m high. Nearby was a pile of unburnt waste and three scrap vehicles. However, when officers returned a month later with officers from Mendip District Council they saw the pile of burnt waste had increased in size. The ash contained electrical appliances, burnt batteries, mouse poison, holly wreaths, a shop display unit, barbeque tools, garden tools plus some household waste and paperwork from the garden centre. Also visible were piles of scrap metal, plant pots and scrap cars including some buried in undergrowth.
Rebecca Bomers for the Environment Agency said:
“The illegal burning of commercial waste on this site posed a serious risk of contamination to soils and groundwater. The defendant continued to dispose of waste by burning despite being warned, on a number of occasions, that his actions were unlawful. The offences were deliberate and took place over a prolonged period of time. The defendant denied he was motivated by financial gain, although he would have saved a considerable amount of money in waste disposal costs.”
Appearing before Frome magistrates, Terence Bailey was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,713 costs after pleading guilty to four offences under the Environmental Protection Regulations 2007 and one under the Environmental Protection Act 1991 including depositing and disposing of waste at Rocky Mountain Nursery without a permit and transferring waste without waste transfer notes.

Product alert

2011-03-10T12:01:00.001Z

IFEDA members should make sure they check their email in-boxes for a fire extinguisher product alert.

Latest breach of FSO - Landlord pays over £25K in fines and costs

2011-03-08T09:19:00.002Z

Court case February 2011

A landlord has been ordered to pay £20,000 in fines after a fire caused his tenants to flee the property for their lives.
Hitesh Mashru pleaded guilty to four breaches of the Fire Safety Order last week (February) at Watford Magistrates Court.
He was also ordered to pay £7,394.58 in costs for the breaches, which took place at 39 High Street, Bushey. On the 24 April last year, six tenants were forced to escape the upstairs flats during an electrical fire which took 50 fire-fighters to extinguish. Investigations found the blaze was started by faulty electrics and that it was not connected with a Thai restaurant on the ground floor of the property.
Fire safety officers from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service found that the premises had a number of failures which put lives at risk including no fire detection or fire alarm, no fire doors, no emergency lighting and storage on escape routes.
Neither had Mr Mashru carried out a fire risk assessment, as required by the FSO.
Hertfordshire’s chief fire officer Roy Wilsher, said: “Where breaches of fire legislation are considered so serious that there is a risk of death or serious injury to people we can consider prosecution. “In this case, six people were extremely lucky to escape with their lives and we strongly urge that all landlords make sure their premises are safe from fire and are compliant with fire law. “With the 2012 Olympics approaching and the ever increasing numbers of shared accommodation and bed and breakfast type accommodation, the responsible person must consider fire precautions for the protection of life”. IFEDA urges all responsible persons to carry out a fire risk assessment as per the FSO legislation. If anyone feels that it is beyond their capability a number of IFEDA members as listed at http://www.ifeda.org/regions.htm will be only too willing to assist.

Hair straighteners - a fire waiting to happen?

2011-03-03T09:38:00.002Z

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is reminding people to take extra care when using hair straighteners following a fire in Littlehampton.
The warning comes after firefighters were called to a house on Toddington Lane 2nd March following a blaze in an upstairs bedroom. The fire started after a girl left hair straighteners on her bed while she went into another room. When she returned, just a few minutes later, she was shocked to see her duvet alight. Luckily, she immediately raised the alarm and her quick acting grandfather managed to extinguish the blaze using a bucket of water before it could develop. Crew Commander at Littlehampton Fire Station, Alan Blair, said afterwards:"Thankfully, they have had a really lucky escape here. We are relieved that nobody has been hurt, because there was potential for this to have been a very serious incident. Hair straighteners have become increasingly popular over the last few years, particularly with teenagers, but they do carry a fire risk because they reach extremely high temperatures of around 220 degrees. They can also take a long time to cool down and if they are placed on a flamable surface like bedding then a fire can develop very quickly. Our advice would be to place straighteners on a hard heat resistant surface, even after you have unplugged them and don't leave them unattended while they are switched on." IFEDA notes that this incident highlights the need to install and regularly check fire alarms.

A portable unit for dry riser testing

2011-01-26T10:24:00.003Z

HTWT Mobile Test Unit

One often quoted problem with servicing dry/wet risers is the need to have a large and cumbersome pump, sometimes this is just not feasible especially when access space (or even the funds to finance) is not available. IFEDA may have the answer - through the good offices of member company Flameskill we are proud to announce the HTWT Mobile Test Unit.

This device was recently demonstrated on the first IFEDA dry riser course and is easy to manoeuvre and operate.

The HTWT has been developed to enable pressure testing of
waterway equipment without the need for an external pump or power source.
The unit, which is fully mobile, comprises of a CE marked 63 litre stainless steel water storage cylinder, a pressurising air cylinder and associated controls.
Operation of the unit is a simple case of filling the storage
cylinder with water, connecting to the equipment requiring test – Dry Riser / Fire Hose etc. – opening the water outlet valve, then opening the air supply valve and adjusting the regulator to the desired test pressure.
Once the test has completed the air supply is shut off, and the vent valve opened.
The HTWT Mobile Test Unit ideal for testing Dry Risers and lay flat Fire Hose.
The unit is fitted with a standard 9 Litre 200 Bar compressed air BA cylinder with an adjustable pressure regulator and a 15 Bar pressure relief valve fitted to avoid over pressurisation.
The standard unit is supplied with a length of Lay flat Fire Hose fitted with 2.5" British Standard Instantaneous Couplings to enable connection to dry riser inlets.
Lay flat fire hoses requiring test can be connected directly to the test unit.
The unit is filled by connecting a water supply to the 2.5"
instantaneous inlet water connection, and opening the inlet and vent valve until full.
Where the water requirement exceeds 50 Litres the unit can be refilled during the test procedure.

The HTWT Mobile Test Unit

The above equipment from member company Flameskill is available to IFEDA members at £2K plus vat (non members £2.25K plus vat). If you are interested or would like further information please send an email (in the first instance) to grahamferris@ifeda.org

Dates for IFEDA's Dry Riser, Fire Hose Reel and Fire Extinguisher technician training courses (as recognized by BAFE) can be found via www.ifeda.org/training.htm

IFEDA's latest newsletter

2011-01-12T18:30:00.002Z

The Winter edition of Firetalk can be viewed at http://www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm

Happy reading.

Additional Dry riser course from IFEDA

2011-01-04T12:02:00.005Z

Due to overwhelming demand we have added another two day dry riser course for the 15/16th March at our Stockport training centre.

The information about this course other than the new dates can be found on the posting below of 9th December.

For more details or to book please email at info@ifeda.org

FSO: Landmark case - Fire Alarm Engineer Fined

2010-12-24T13:55:00.002Z

A FORMER retained firefighter from Wales who failed to maintain a fire alarm in a care home has been fined £11,000 including costs in a landmark case.
Christopher Morris, 56, of Llandudno, Wales, appeared before Manchester Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two separate offences at Trafford Magistrates Court.
He was fined £2,500 for each offence and £6,000 in costs for failing to maintain a fire alarm system at a care home in Trafford, Manchester, to a recognised standard and failing to inform the owners of the home of the deficiencies in the system.
Morris is the first fire alarm engineer to be prosecuted as a responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). At the previous hearing the bench at Trafford Magistrates Court decided it did not have sufficient powers to deal with the case and what they described as 'culpable neglect' by the defendant.
The case was brought to court by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority in what is believed to be the first of its kind under the FSO. The law allows the Fire and Rescue Authority to prosecute a person who has responsibility for a particular area of premises or, as in this case, maintaining fire equipment that requires specialist knowledge or skills to carry out repairs.
Deputy County Fire Officer Jim Owen said it would send a strong message throughout the fire industry that Fire and Rescue Authorities in England and Wales will not hesitate in taking firm action against anyone that falls short of their obligations under fire legislation.
Mr Owen said: "Whilst many owners have been prosecuted under the Fire Safety Order, this may be the first time a fire and rescue authority has prosecuted someone contracted by the owner of a property to maintain a fire alarm. Taking on such a contract extends the requirements of the order to the fire alarm engineer. Anyone we find who doesn't carry out their work to recognised standards is a danger and we won't hesitate to take action."
The court heard how Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire incident at a care home in Trafford in May 2009. An elderly resident died following the blaze. During subsequent investigations into the fire safety arrangements at the premises, fire safety enforcement officers commissioned an examination of the fire alarm system by a specialist consultant who sits on the British Standard committee for fire alarm systems.
The examination report revealed that the system was estimated to have been installed during the late 1980s or early 1990s and that a number of issues were discovered within the panel that demonstrated poor practice remedial work had been carried out at some time during its lifetime. This included:
A blown fuse over-ridden with a piece of wireAn electronic component had been suspended between two terminal bocks instead of being attached to the circuit board, an alarm silence/fault warning buzzer was missing from the circuit board and the fault warning light on the front face of the panel had been almost covered by paint
Christopher Morris, an electrician who had taken over the maintenance of the system in 2006, had issued several annual certificates of worthiness to the owner of the home, stating the system was 100 per cent.
During an interview under caution, Morris initially claimed that although the system was old it complied with the relevant British Standard. However, when he was challenged about the poor repair issues and shown the specialists photographs he admitted that he was not aware of them.

If anything, surely the above is a good case for a premises Responsible Person contracting to BAFE/third party accredited companies?

IFEDA dry riser courses

2010-12-22T11:18:00.001Z

The advertised january course and the February follow-up are now full. the next two day dry riser course is scheduled for May. Please contact for details.

Faulty Xmas lights

2010-12-22T11:13:00.001Z

Frightening how quick this tree and the room go up in flames

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtjGfr0tYs

FSO breach: marina store fined

2010-12-22T10:44:00.002Z

The Hartlepool Mail reports that:-
A DISCOUNT store chain has been hit with a fine after a fire service found emergency exits were blocked during a blaze in one of its shops.

Opus Homewares has been slapped with a £7,500 fine and ordered to pay £4,000 in court costs after a fire in the firm's B&M Home Store, in Highlight Retail Park, Hartlepool, on September 30, 2009. Fire safety officers found bosses had breached regulations five times by blocking exits and took the company to court last week. Cleveland Fire Brigade is now warning other businesses to make sure their premises are up to standard, both to keep people safe and avoid hefty fines. Simon Arora, managing director of Opus Homewares, said his company regrets the incident and has since worked closely with the fire service to make the store safe. Barry Waller, head of fire engineering for Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "The fire broke out at the front of the store and, after the fire was extinguished by responding fire crews, it was found that several exits were unavailable or obstructed. "The circumstances found at the time of the incident were such that they seriously compromised the safety of the occupants and that is not something the fire brigade can, or will, condone."It is important people realise we take these regulations very seriously and we will take such action whenever necessary."The company was in Hartlepool Magistrates' Court last week for the five offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Ian Hayton, chief fire officer for Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "I would also like to take this opportunity to remind people that the role of the fire service in relation to fire safety has changed to that of enforcement and that it is the responsibility of owners, occupiers or managers to ensure that suitable and sufficient fire safety arrangements are in place within their premises."

Announcing a New 2 Day Course from IFEDA

2010-12-09T16:07:00.002Z

The Service & Maintenance of Dry Risers with regards to BS9990 : 2006

There will be a 2 day course on the Service and Maintenance of Dry Risers at our Stockport Training Centre on 18th and 19th January 2011

The objective of the IFEDA training course for the Service & Maintenance of Dry Riser Systems (also known as a Dry Fire Main) is to give competent Service Technicians guidance, together with a more thorough understanding of their responsibilities when carrying out work on these systems.

The course will include hands-on practical sessions on our purpose-built dry riser stack and a theory examination with regards to BS9990: 2006 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Members cost £305 (ex VAT)
Non-members cost £355 (ex VAT)
Price includes manual, certificate (for the successful candidate), lunch and refreshments, but excludes travel and accommodation costs.

To book please contact Karen on info@ifeda.org
SYLLABUS

British Standard 9990: 2006.
An introduction to the current “Code of practice for non-automatic fire-fighting systems in buildings” covering the design, installation, testing and maintenance of dry fire-fighting mains, including a brief description of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the duties of the “Responsible Person” in respect of Dry Riser provision and maintenance.

Health & Safety at Work
Duties and responsibilities of the employer and the employee particularly in respect of site service visits.

Dry Riser, Components and Parts
The purpose of Dry Risers their operating principles and an introduction to the valves and inlets/outlets associated with a Dry Riser System.

Testing, Servicing and Maintenance of Dry Risers
The outlined procedures for Service/Maintenance Engineers to carry out during the testing and servicing of Dry Risers. Fault identification and rectification: to include practical hands on instruction on our purpose-built dry riser stack

The IFEDA/BFC Golf Challenge 2011

2010-11-22T09:58:00.002Z

IFEDA and BFC members are looking forward to another weekend of friendly rivallry and sporting endeavour with the next Golf Challenge. The event will take place on the weekend of March 25th - March 27th and details of this popular event can be found by clicking here.

The Ashbury Hotel, Okehampton Nr Dartmoor, is not just for golf, as detailed via the welink, there are loads of outdoor and indoor activities for non-golfers including children and at great value: so why not make a family weekend of it?

To see all the activites at Ashbury click here

Minister 'talks out' Torbay MP's Bill home for smoke alarms

2010-11-20T10:26:00.002Z

The Herald Express of South Devon reports the following:-

PLANS to make it a legal requirement for smoke alarms to be fitted in rented properties have been blocked by the Government.

Lib Dem MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders (pictured), who was seeking to introduce the new law, has expressed his disappointment after it was "talked out" by a minister.
It means the proposals effectively go to the bottom of the pile, and have virtually no chance of coming back because of lack of parliamentary time.
But Mr Sanders has vowed to continue fighting for the measure, and is seeking a meeting with ministers to overcome their concerns.
Mr Sanders said: "It's terribly disappointing the Government have taken this hardline regulatory line which is an ideological position, which just doesn't work when you talk about people's lives.
"Sometimes it's needed to protect the vulnerable."

Mr Sander's efforts follow the deaths of Stephanie Wojak and Ben McAuliffe in the Ellacombe blaze in 2009.
The house in Ellacombe Church Road where the children lived with Gill and Mike Wojak and their son Ricky did not have a fire alarm.
Following the tragedy it was revealed that 25 per cent of the Riviera Housing Trust homes, 690 properties, did not have fire alarms at the time.
It had planned to install smoke detectors in the remaining 25 per cent of its properties as part of a major home improvement programme, which it brought forward immediately.
Mr Sanders wants to ensure that there are working "hard-wired" fire safety devices in all rented properties at the start of a tenancy.
This would be alongside the existing legal requirements for gas and electricity checks, and an energy performance certificate.
The backbencher, who is a long-time campaigner for smoke alarms, suggested instead of creating new regulations, the EPC could be downgraded to a guideline, and the other requirements could be bundled into one and so actually reducing red-tape.
Mr Sanders told MPs that the plan, which had the backing of Devon fire chiefs, would save dozens of lives and prevent thousands of injuries every year. Speaking at the Bill's second reading debate, Mr Sanders warned the Government: "The bottom line here is that regulations save lives, ideological objections take lives.
"It's an interesting test for the coalition because that divide goes to the heart of what divides most Liberal Democrats from most Conservatives. Is the minister big enough to bridge that divide?"
His Bill was supported by Tory MP for Totnes Dr Sarah Wollaston and Shadow housing minister Alison Seabeck.

Fire Safety order : Car Boot Organizer Fined.

2010-11-15T09:51:00.002Z

The following case is a good example of The Fire Safety Order applying to NOT just shops, offices, guest houses etc but to one-off and short-term events such as a car boot sale.

THE organizer of a Mansfield car boot fair who breached fire safety regulations has had a £24,000 fine halved on appeal.
Michael John Snow received the fine at Nottingham Crown Court in July, along with a six-month suspended sentence. He was also ordered to do unpaid work.
He admitted eight breaches of fire safety regulations, including blocked fire exits, after holding a car boot sale on four floors of an indoor market at Botany Commercial Park, in Mansfield.
Snow, 54, of Derwent Crescent, Newbold, Chesterfield, had the fine halved to £12,000 at London's Appeal Court yesterday.
Mr Justice Henriques ruled Snow deserved credit for having been "candid" about the breaches.
However, a £9,000 legal costs order against him will remain in place.

Request from the BAFE team

2010-11-11T12:33:00.002Z

Request from BAFE - could all BAFE members please check their details on the new BAFE website and that the search facility works for their details/postcode. Any problems please contact BAFE.

Poundstretcher fined £50,000 over fire safety breaches

2010-11-10T09:35:00.000Z

Nov 10 2010
A HUDDERSFIELD firm has been fined more than £50,000 for serious safety breaches.
Poundstretcher was hauled before a court after safety officials’ uncovered major problems at a store in Castleford.
Only one out of six fire exits could be used in the shop, Leeds Crown Court was told.
The consequences of a fire at the Poundstretcher shop could have been “frankly appalling” said Judge Jonathan Rose. He said the store on Carlton Street would have been a “death trap”.
The firm, based at the Trident Business Park in Leeds Road, Deighton, was fined a total of £51,500 with £3,449 costs for seven breaches of the Fire Safety Order 2005.
The court was told Poundstretcher had failed in its duty to make its store safe, had failed to ensure that exits were clear of obstructions, had not given staff adequate fire training and had not reviewed its fire risk assessment regularly.
Judge Rose said he had taken into account the fact that the company had not made a profit since 2005. But this did not absolve them of the duty to meet fire safety regulations.
The firm has previously been fined for similar concerns at its Halifax and Wakefield stores.
Toni Wharton, prosecuting, said that combustible material was stored en route to one fire exit and trolleys blocked another.
Store manager Ian Burn, who had been in post only two months, had not been given fire training and discovered fire exits only by trial and error, said Mrs Wharton. He didn't even know one of them existed.
Tahir Khan, for Poundstretcher, said the cluster of safety offences in 2009 did not represent the company's normal behaviour.
The sentence was welcomed by West Yorkshire fire chiefs.
Asst Chief Fire Officer Craig McIntosh, director of Fire Safety, said: “The charges brought against Poundstretcher for breaches of fire safety legislation follow similar offences at other Poundstretcher locations.
“This is the third time a prosecution has been brought in West Yorkshire.
“The severity of the fines imposed by the court show that companies cannot continue to treat public and staff safety with contempt. The fines are intended to make Poundstretcher take its obligations seriously in the future”.

IFEDA : National Conference adopts Code of Conduct

2010-11-08T21:56:00.001Z

IFEDA National Conference adopts new code of conduct

A new Code of Conduct was launched to universal approval at the recent IFEDA AGM and National Conference. This rounded off the year for the association, which passed its latest ISO 9001:2008 inspection just weeks before. The year saw rising membership numbers and IFEDA continued to represent its members at national level as well as receiving plaudits for the depth of knowledge and expertise of their trainers.

Held at Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, IFEDA invited a range of excellent speakers to bring their industry expertise to a number of thought provoking and important topics. Graham Newman, Secretary to the CEN/TC 70/WG5 committee which wrote and published EN3 the standard for portable fire extinguishers, instigated some lively discussions, whilst an interactive presentation by David Melton of Firetrace ensured that no-one had a quiet post lunch snooze. Ian Gough gave a timely demonstration on the vital importance of sprinkler systems and finishing off the day was Simon Ince of Warrington Certification. Simon spoke on the industry's need to make sure that Fire Risk Assessors are properly trained and accredited – a topic very much in tune with the ethos of IFEDA and supported by those present.

All members commit to raising standards within the industry by passing ISO 9001: 2008, in addition to the relevant BAFE scheme for their area of operation. This year's AGM and National Conference saw that as well as offering the reassurance of a respected and professional trade body, membership of IFEDA provides small businesses with a personal level of support and encouragement that will help their businesses reach their full potential.

Chairman Colin Payne said: “The atmosphere at this year's event was really buzzing. It's been a great year at IFEDA with a year on year increase in members and the adoption of the new Code of Conduct. We had an excellent turnout and members enjoyed the opportunity to network and catch up with fellow professionals from across the United Kingdom. Due to the excellent location of the event many members brought partners and children, bringing a real family feel to the weekend.

After our hard work throughout the year it was great to hear all who attended declaring the weekend a great success. It was very much a celebration of the commitment and dedication of the organisation and its members to raising quality standards across the fire industry, and as such launched us into what I am sure will be an exciting and challenging 2011.”

Fire Hose Reel Course

2010-11-03T15:09:00.002Z

Please note there will be an extra one day fire hose reel course at our Stockport premises on Friday 17th December - the syllabus will be as per BS671-3 : 2009. Mopre information can be found via www.ifeda.org/training.htm to book please email us.

Thanks Graham

Firex North - And the winner is!

2010-10-29T09:53:00.003+01:00

Robert Kearney of UBM was delighted to provide IFEDA with some independent adjudication for the 'win a fire extinguisher training course' draw at our exhibition stand.

Robert (on the left) picked out the business card of Communications Maintenance Services from Adlington, Chorley, Lancs.

Congratulations CMS - we hope you enjoy the course.

Win a BAFE recognised fire extinguisher training course

2010-10-21T11:38:00.000+01:00

IFEDA will be at FIREX North exhibition on 27th & 28th October, Stand A33.

Do make sure you come along and say hello. Not only will you find out what IFEDA can do for your business but if you leave your business card with us you will have the chance of winning one of our industry recognised initial 3 day training courses for fire extinguisher technicians at either of our Stockport or Fareham training centres - worth £640.

For course information please see www.ifeda.org/training.htm

London Fire Brigade : Industrial action imminent

2010-10-20T14:02:00.002+01:00

Following isa letter to London based trade associations, businesses and service providers.
Dear Sir/Madam,

DISRUPTION OF SERVICE DUE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION

I refer to my letter dated 28 September 2010 that advised of potential disruption to the Authority’s services. This letter is to confirm that industrial action will go ahead and the Fire Brigade’s Union has advised that the first proposed dates for action are 23 October and 1 November 2010. Any further proposed dates for industrial action will be reported in the press.
We will put in place alternative arrangements to ensure an emergency attendance in response to 999 calls although there may be a delayed attendance. We will not however be able to take calls from alarm receiving centres on the normal numbers and in the event of a fire alarm, you are advised to contact the Brigade on the 999 emergency number so that an attendance may be mobilised to the premises concerned.
During the period of industrial action there are a number of things you can do to reduce calls to the fire service and the risk of fire occurring which are outlined below. Taking these measures will also ensure you are protecting your business and staff.
If your fire alarm operates during any period of industrial action please react as follows:
Immediately the fire alarm sounds, put into action your normal evacuation routine.
Unless it is obvious that there is a fire, investigate the source of the alarm to establish if it is a fire or a false alarm.
If you are certain that there is no fire and no suspicion of a fire then the building should be reoccupied. Under these circumstances, do not call the fire brigade. If, during the investigation, a fire is discovered or there is a smell of burning or smoke that cannot be accounted for then dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade.
To prevent any unnecessary disruption, please ensure that any known problems resulting in false fire alarms are corrected so that there is a high degree of confidence that fire alarms that do occur are genuine.

If you have lifts in your building you should ensure that, in the event of a lift becoming stuck, clear advice is available on how to contact the responsible maintenance company. Details should be made available in the lift and where alarm calls are received in the building.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal requirement upon employers and persons with responsibility for premises. These responsibilities and safety measures are designed to protect life regardless of fire service intervention. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that all existing fire safety provisions are in place and effective. Directors, Senior Managers and Health & Safety Managers will want to ensure the following are being considered:
Check business continuity plans;
Check the effectiveness of existing fire precautions;
Check staff are fully aware of fire and evacuation procedures;
Take appropriate steps to enhance staff vigilance;
Review arrangements for calling the emergency services;
The need for additional staffing or patrols.

During the period of industrial action it should be noted that we may not be able to respond to any fire safety enquiries within our normal time-scales. I would, however, highlight the fact that it remains the responsibility of employers and other premises occupiers to comply with fire safety law; information on how to achieve this, and more general fire safety advice, is available on our website at:
www.london-fire.gov.uk
I apologise for any inconvenience this temporary disruption may cause and can assure you that we will be taking all necessary action to minimise its effects.

Yours faithfully,

STEVE TUREK
Assistant Commissioner
Fire Safety Regulation

RRO Breach :

2010-10-19T11:55:00.002+01:00

Liverpool launderette owner ordered to pay £9,000 over fire safety breaches

Liverpool Echo 19th October 2010

A LAUNDERETTE owner has been ordered to pay £9,000 after failing to comply with fire safety laws.
Christine Doyle, who owns Wash and Press Centre on Aigburth Road, had no fire prevention or detection measures when she was visited by fire safety inspectors.
The launderette was issued with a stop notice and closed after the visit last November, but she continued to trade.

RRO breaches: Indian restaurant bosses fined £8,000 for 'horrific' safety failings

2010-10-08T07:56:00.002+01:00

Ignorance of the RRO is no excuse.

TWO bosses at a well-known Indian restaurant have each been fined £4,000 for breaching fire regulations after a blaze at the premises.
Plymouth magistrates told Taklus Hussain and Faizul Hoque they were ‘horrified’ at safety breaches at Mutley Spice.
They heard that smoke alarms at Mutley Spice were inadequate and stairwells leading to flats above were blocked.
The court was told that the fire was only spotted when a passer-by saw smoke.
Presiding magistrate Diana Greene said: “We were horrified at the extent of your non-compliance. If a random passer-by had not seen the smoke the outcome could have been extremely different. It hardly bears thinking about.”
Magistrates fined them both a total of £4,000 and ordered that they pay £2,300 each in prosecution costs.
Part of the basement restaurant was seriously damaged but nobody was hurt in the fire last November.
Hussain, aged 57, and Hoque, aged 48, admitted four breaches of fire regulations which put people at risk of death or serious injury on or before November 23 last year.
Hussain and Hoque, both of Mutley, admitted not carrying out a proper fire risk assessment and not giving staff proper training.
They also admitted not having suitable detectors and alarms and not keeping exits clear from the domestic premises at the three-storey building.
Kingsley Keat, prosecuting for the Devon and Fire Rescue Authority, said that a fire started when a member of staff left a heater on at about 5pm on November 23.
He added that the risk was not to any customers who may have been in the restaurant but to members of staff who stayed in the flats above the restaurant in Mutley Plain.
The court heard that the fire brigade were called by a passer-by.
Mr Keat said that the stairwells to the upper floors were cluttered with boxes, pots and other items.
He added that the building was not fitted with adequate commercial standard smoke detectors and fire alarms.
Anthony Dyke, for both men, said that the offences happened through ignorance and were not a deliberate breach of the law.
He added that the restaurant itself was largely compliant with fire regulations but the mistake the directors made was allowing staff to stay overnight in the accommodation upstairs.

RRO Breaches: Cheshire Hotel Fined £75,000

2010-10-07T12:01:00.002+01:00

Hoteliers are being warned to check fire safety equipment and procedures at their premises after The Belfry Hotel in Cheshire was fined £75k for breaching fire safety codes.
A routine visit (in April 2008) by the fire service to the 160-bedroom Hallmark Hotel revealed such severe safety issues that Fire Safety Officers closed the hotel immediately.
They found numerous faulty smoke detectors and substandard fire exits, while the hotel’s third floor failed to contain a single working fire alarm. Staff were also found to have not been properly trained in fire safety.
Lee Shears, manager for Community Fire Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Fire safety is a key part of good business management and the Hallmark Hotel Group showed little or no regard for the safety of their guests or employees and the result was a prosecution.”
The Belfry Hotel pleaded guilty to three counts of serious breaches of the regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order at Chester Crown Court on Monday (4 October), paying £25k for each offence and £53k in costs.
Judge Elgin Edwards told the court that the legislation is there to ensure the protection of the public.
“For people who run hotels, fire security is particularly important,” he said. “This company carried on trading and taking guests when quite clearly these guests were put at substantial risk.”
The Belfry Hotel was given permission to reopen four days later after fixing fire safety problems and installing the required equipment.

IFEDA comment: If anyone is unsure of their responsibilities with regards to the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order IFEDA members are only to happy to help and advise especially with regards to Fire Risk Assessments BUT as the above case shows just don't ignore the problem, your local authorities will close buildings and prosecute when they deem it necessary. http://www.ifeda.org/regions.htm

The dangers of candles

2010-10-07T10:45:00.000+01:00

A HOUSE blaze, where a mother and her young son narrowly escaped injury, has prompted fire chiefs to issue a warning about the dangers of candles. Cleveland Fire Brigade crews were called to Hastings Way in Billingham last Friday night (1st ) after a candle is thought to have set fire to curtains in a living room. The occupants, a mother and her two-year-old son, both attended hospital for checks after the incident but were later released. Ian Harrington, District Manager for Stockton, said the incident highlighted the dangers of naked flames in the home and called for people to be extra careful. He said: “Candles can be a very quick way of seriously putting your life in danger if you don’t pay attention. Never leave them unattended. On this occasion this family was very lucky but on another occasion they might not have been so fortunate.”

Press release October 2010

2010-10-01T11:31:00.001+01:00

IFEDA set the standards

As champions for standards within the fire industry, the fire association IFEDA have passed their ISO 9001: 2008 inspection. Adherence to ISO is a public commitment to IFEDA’s belief in quality standards, enabling it to provide the best service to members. As an independent audit, ISO demonstrates that IFEDA are achieving their goals.
Graham Ferris, General Manager says: “Passing this inspection demonstrates that as a trade association IFEDA are practising what we ask members to commit to. It is 3rd party recognition of the continuing standards we strive for in the industry.”
As an independent trade association that champions quality and service within the fire industry, IFEDA ask members to demonstrate their commitment to raising standards by passing ISO 9001: 2008 themselves. For members that fail to work towards this standard, membership is terminated. Eight members have had their membership terminated this year for failing to fulfil this commitment.
Graham Ferris continues “It’s unfortunate that a small proportion of memberships have been terminated, however when all members commit to raising standards within the industry and work hard towards this, non-compliance reflects badly on everyone.”
Details on the benefits of IFEDA membership can be found at: www.ifeda.org.

Firetalk - latest edition

2010-09-28T15:23:00.001+01:00

Hi, the latest edition of the IFEDA newsletter 'Firetalk' can be found via this link http://www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm

Happy reading

IFEDA on Twitter

2010-09-28T08:51:00.000+01:00

good morning, if you were following IFEDA on twitter you will need to sign up again as I had to redo the page - thanks

RRO breaches : Latest case. £33,000 worth of fines.

2010-09-24T11:30:00.002+01:00

Hotel 'put profit before safety'
Source Juliet Eysenck on Sep 24, Westminster Chronicle

A Paddington hotel accused of putting profit before safety has been fined for breaching fire regulations.
Two members of the public raised concerns after staying overnight at the Ventures Hotel in Sussex Gardens.
Fire officers then inspected the property and found a number of fire safety failings including blocked emergency exits, wedged open fire doors and no suitable or sufficient fire risk assessment.
They issued an enforcement notice detailing the issues and set a time frame for them to be remedied by.
Malik Mohammed Bashir, manager of Ventures Hotel in Sussex Gardens, and Awan Investments Ltd, which owns the hotel, denied 10 fire safety offences but were found guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 14.
District judge Michael Snow said the defendants were not concerned with the safety of staff and guests, and that the fire safety lapses showed the organisation prioritised profit over safety.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Bashir said: "This was an isolated incident and it happened so long ago.
"All the issues are resolved now.
"We had some redecoration work going on at the time, and if people are delivering materials, it's very difficult to stop them parking in front of the hotel and blocking emergency exits.
"One part of the hotel was closed at the time."
Awan Investments Ltd was ordered to pay £27,015 in fines and costs, while Mr Bashir was fined a further £5,015 for his role in the safety breaches on March 2, 2009.
Steve Turek, London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, said: "The general public should feel safe from fire when they are staying at a hotel and the responsible person must make sure their premises comply with the regulations.
"All premises owners and operators must undertake a fire safety risk assessment."

Chubb Fire Wins Appeal

2010-09-02T11:41:00.001+01:00

If Chubb had lost the appeal detailed below the implications for every supplier of fire extinguishers could have been serious: a good day for all.

Court of Appeal: Chubb Fire wins appeal Re £240,000 extinguisher damage
In a landmark case, the Court of Appeal has held that a fire safety company was not responsible for the damage caused by vandals setting off a dry powder extinguisher, causing £240,000 worth of damage to a historic Lincolnshire church.
On Friday 1 September 2006, three teenage boys entered the unlocked and unoccupied medieval church of St Mary and St Nicholas in Spalding. The boys found a dry powder extinguisher in a small kitchen took it into the main part of the church and discharged it along the length of the nave, covering the fabric/furniture of the church and many expensive fittings.
In the original hearing at Nottingham County Court in January 2009, the judge found that Chubb Fire was liable for the damage, as it negligently failed to warn the church about the mess that a discharge would cause.
In a judgement delivered on 20 August, the Court of Appeal reversed the judge’s decision, saying that it even if a warning had been given by Chubb, there was no evidence that the church would have made a definite decision not to install the dry powder extinguisher. The court also held that it was not fair to hold Chubb liable for the deliberate and criminal actions of people over whom it had no responsibility, even if malicious discharge of an extinguisher was in some way foreseeable.
The church's insurers, Ecclesiastical Insurance, had brought the original claim in the name of the church.
Have a good day.

Another timely warning: Beware Asbestos

2010-07-29T11:04:00.002+01:00

The following article relates directly to technicians of fire protection companies who work in schools and have to disturb the fabric of the building to lay cables, fit extinguisher brackets etc.

Remember: you should be asking to see the Asbestos Register when you first sign in to a premises (IFEDA fire extinguisher training manual).

Repeal of schools-building programme raises asbestos alarm

The cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Programme could increase the risk of children, teachers and support staff being exposed to asbestos, TUC union officials have warned.
Many existing school buildings are likely to contain asbestos, as they were built before 1970, when the material was in common use. As these buildings fall into disrepair, the risk of asbestos exposure increases significantly.
The number of teachers who have died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has increased by more than 300 per cent in the last 20 years, according to the TUC campaigners. More worryingly, they point out that children exposed to asbestos are five times more likely to develop mesothelioma than adult teachers in the same environment.
The TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group is further alarmed by the fact that many schools have spent little on maintenance, on the promise that they would be part of the previous Labour government’s BSF programme, which aimed to rebuild or renew nearly every secondary school in England. The Group claims that new Education secretary Michael Gove’s decision to halt the BSF scheme has scuppered the plans of nearly 100 schools in the north of England (six in Cumbria and 93 in the North East) to move forward with a new-build programme.

20 tradesmen/women die every week from the effects of asbestos - don't let it be you.

Why Join IFEDA

2010-07-08T15:03:00.003+01:00

So why would you join a trade association like IFEDA? Well there are plenty of reasons which are listed in various places but one over-riding reason more than anything would be SUPPORT:- on Monday lunchtime IFEDA was informed of a potential problem and safety alert regarding a certain type/batch of fire extinguisher valve heads: this alert was with members within the hour. So not having to scrabble around in various forums or rely on hearsay to find out what's going on: if we know it, the members know it.

Convinced? See www.ifeda.org/join.htm

IFEDA Newsletter

2010-07-08T11:06:00.001+01:00

The summer edition of Firetalk, the quarterly newsletter from IFEDA, is available to view at www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm

Refresher Course Updates

2010-07-08T11:03:00.002+01:00

Please be advised that there are places available on the following Extinguisher refresher courses:-
Blackwood, Gwent - Tuesday 21st Sept,
Walsall, West Midlands - Tuesday, 14th Sept
Enfield, North London - Wednesday, 18th August

BS5306-3 Annex A (informative) recommends the competent person; having passed the described examination should attend a refresher course at least every three years.
BAFE are with-holding SP101/ST104 certificates and badges if refreshers are not up to date.
These IFEDA courses are BAFE recognised and are run as per BS5306-3: 2009.
The syllabus can be found at www.ifeda.org/training.htm
Should you wish to book please reply direct to me in the first instance by email.

Judge Upholds New Look Fine

2010-06-17T09:35:00.001+01:00

Court of Appeal upholds £400,000 fine for New Look
16 June 2010
Retailer New Look’s appeal against its record £400,000 fine for fire safety breaches at its Oxford Street store was dismissed yesterday, with the Court of Appeal saying the fine was not excessive in view of the company’s “lamentable” performance of fire safety duties.In a significant judgement for responsible persons under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the court decided that the level of the fine was not excessive in relation to the seriousness of the offences, the size and nature of the company, and the risk to the public which New Look ran. The court also held that the fine was not out of kilter with those for offences under general health and safety legislation where there was a risk of death or serious injury. The conviction of New Look last November followed a fire at its Oxford Street store on 26 April 2009, which resulted in a chaotic evacuation of some 400 people, the closure part of Oxford Street for two days, and the eventual demolition of the building. The company was subsequently prosecuted and pleaded guilty to two main counts under the Fire Safety Order – failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and failing to ensure that employees were given adequate fire safety training. Other alleged detailed breaches were taken into account under these two counts. The Court of Appeal concluded that while it accepted that the fire itself was not caused by the retailer’s breaches of duty, (the cause of the fire has never been established) the offences were serious enough to create a magnitude of risk in which death and serious injury in the fire was avoided by luck. The appeal judges also agreed with the trial judge that a starting point for a fine in these circumstances was £600,000. This was rightly reduced to £400,000 in view of nobody being killed or injured, the company pleading guilty and co-operating with the investigation at the earliest opportunity, and the company demonstrating that it had taken significant steps to remedy fire safety shortcomings across its stores.Special risks from fireWhile maintaining that the principles of setting the level of fines under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 were similar to those for the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the court said the trial judge was right to recognise “that the nature of the risk that employees and others were to be protected was the risk from death or serious injury in a fire. Fire can be indiscriminate in its effect and, in the case of an organisation which in the centre of a large city undertakes responsibility for large numbers of visitors to its premises, breach will usually be a very serious matter.”The Court of Appeal concluded: “We share the judge’s view that the appellant’s performance of its fire safety duties in a large department store in the centre of London was lamentable. The fines were, we recognise, severe, but they were not on our judgement manifestly excessive and the appeal is dismissed.

”In a statement issued after the judgement, the retailer said:"New Look is committed to putting the health and safety of customers and employees first. Although the appeal against the fine was unsuccessful, we note that the original 35 alleged breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) were reduced to 2 offences and at no time has it been alleged that the company was either responsible for the fire, or that its breaches of the RRFSO caused the fire."

RRO Fire Breaches at the CLG

2010-06-10T09:12:00.000+01:00

The condemnation of the CLG at Eland House for failures relating to the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 (RRO) is both timely and pertinent in that it highlights another failure of the previous administration i.e. it introduced major legislation in the form of the RRO without the necessary fanfare and education it deserved. When even the CLG, the department responsible for implementation of the RRO doesn't understand its own responsibilities (and clearly doesn't understand what a fire risk assessment is and how to do one) what chance has the rest of UKPLC got - the majority of which is not free from prosecution. Compare this non-campaign for the RRO to the yearly Asbestos Awareness campaign and even the presently running campaign to remind people to renew their tax credits. Ignorance may be bliss but as we know Fire costs lives.

IFEDA Extinguisher Refresher Courses

2010-06-03T08:58:00.001+01:00

please be advised that there are places available on the following Extinguisher refresher courses:-

Enfield, North London - Wednesday, 18th August (date TBC)
Wymondham, Norfolk Tuesday, 13th July
Glasgow Tuesday, 15th June

BS5306-3 Annex A (informative) recommends the competent person; having passed the described examination should attend a refresher course at least every three years.

I have just been informed that BAFE are with-holding SP101/ST104 certificates and badges if refreshers are not up to date.

These IFEDA courses are BAFE recognised and are run as per BS5306-3: 2009.

The syllabus can be found at www.ifeda.org/training.htm
Should you wish to book please reply direct to me in the first instance by email.

New IFEDA Facebook group

2010-05-21T09:56:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the IFEDA - Coffee Lounge. We have set up a group for all the administration support left alone and behind at the office (the power behind the throne that actually keeps the business on the road) whilst the extinguishers, alarms and suppression systems are being seen to in the big wide world. Who can you turn to if you have any query you're not sure about e.g. I'm using excel/outlook/word etc etc what do i do if/when? If so why not post it in the coffee lounge and you never know someone else maybe having the same problem or have just worked it out.
The IFEDA - Coffee Lounge http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114835081891371

See you there - mine's black with one sugar and if you insist a digestive too.

Fire Hose Reel Courses - Stockport

2010-04-28T13:52:00.004+01:00

Due to extra demand there will be two more fire hose reel courses (run to BS671-3 : 2009) in Stockport on the following dates:-

Friday 21st May and Friday 25th June.

The syllabus and other details for this course can be found at www.ifeda.org/training.htm

Please contact info@ifeda.org should you wish to book of for more information.

The cost of the course includes; comprehensive training manual, certificate and refreshments.

Extinguisher Refresher Course - Glasgow

2010-03-01T10:48:00.001Z

There will be a one day extinguisher refresher course in Glasgow on Tuesday 15th June.
This will include notes from the recent IFEDA workshops highlighting the changes to BS5306-3: 2009

The cost of this course will be IFEDA members £140 + vat
Non- IFEDA members £160 + vat

Please note the IFEDA extinguisher training courses are recognised by BAFE as per BS5306-3 : 2009 annex A. The cost of the course includes; comprehensive training manual, certificate and refreshments.

To check any details re the syllabus please see www.ifeda.org/training.htm

If you are interested in this course, in the first instance, please reply by email to grahamferris@ifeda.org

New Training Facilities Scotland & Midlands

2010-02-26T16:33:00.002Z

Training facilities Scotland
With our members in Scotland and the far North of England in mind we are delighted to announce that thanks to the good offices of Rapid Fire Services Ltd of Glasgow, IFEDA now has dedicated training facilities North of the Border. To begin with we will run extinguisher refresher courses adding at later dates the initial (3 day) extinguisher technician training courses.

Training facilities Midlands
Later this year IFEDA will also begin refresher training at Spectrum Fire Protection Ltd, Walsall, with special thanks to Paul Kerman. Adding this location means our Midlands based members will no longer have to trek North to Stockport or South to Fareham.
Both of our new locations are situated near to major routes/motorways·
N.B. IFEDA extinguisher courses are BAFE recognised as per SP101/ST104

IFEDA SURVEY: FIRE RISK ASSESSMENTS

2010-01-29T11:15:00.001Z

A recent IFEDA Survey of North Buckinghamshire businesses with regards to Fire Risk Assessments and the role of the Responsible Person confirmed and supported an earlier statement from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that, rather worryingly, over 40% businesses are still failing to comply with fire regulations some three years after the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order by not carrying out Fire Risk Assessments. Introduced in October 2006 the Fire Safety Order (2005), states that all business owners are obliged to conduct regular risk assessments and maintain a fire management plan that identifies possible fire hazards and advises on safety measures. Businesses are obliged to tell their staff about the plan and train them accordingly.

Business stake holders should be aware that fire authorities are increasingly clamping down on businesses who won’t comply with the law with more than 3,000 enforcement notices issued nationwide in the past year by the fire services. This resulted in some 60 firms being prosecuted - a 40 per cent increase in just twelve months.

Further research by IFEDA revealed typical breaches of fire safety law as blocking fire exits, propping open fire doors (especially with fire extinguishers), failure to keep adequate records, failure to make a written risk assessment with more than 5 employees, failure to test fire safety equipment, failure to have their fire extinguishers serviced annually, failure to nominate a Responsible Person, inadequate signage, fire exit routes compromised with combustible items, inadequate means of escape from sleeping accommodation and a failure to train staff in evacuation procedures.

The IFEDA newsletter, FireTalk, regularly carries examples of enforcement actions and prosecutions by the Fire Service so proving that this problem is not going unnoticed and, as in the recent case of High Street store, New Look can lead to a large and potentially business breaking fine. FireTalk can be found at www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm

Many IFEDA members offer a Fire Risk Assessment survey and can advise on all aspects of portable fire extinguishers, alarms emergency lighting and educating staff in fire prevention. A list of 3rd party accredited members in your area can be found at www.ifeda.org/regions.htm

Extinguisher Refresher Course - Cornwall

2010-01-18T14:48:00.003Z

There will be a one day (BAFE recognized) extinguisher refresher course on Thursday 13th May and also on Friday 14th May at Fire Crest, Pool in Cornwall. Please contact IFEDA for these or any of the other training courses advertised.

Please note that with today's bookings the Refresher course at Buckingham is now full.

Lakanal House: “Fire risk training was 'inadequate"

2010-01-18T14:30:00.001Z

Sam Masters of the South London Press reported today (Monday, 18 January) that Fire Risk Assessment Training for council staff to check for fire risks in tower blocks was inadequate for “complex” buildings, it has emerged.
Before the fatal blaze at Lakanal House in Camberwell on July 3, a change in legislation shifted responsibility from London Fire Brigade to the town halls to check buildings were safe.
Many town halls paid specialist surveyors to carry out the fire risk assessments (FRAs) on high-rises after 2006 – including Labour-run Lewisham and Lambeth councils.
But Lib Dem/Tory-run Southwark council kept the inspections in-house, sending staff on fire brigade training courses in 2008.
This week, a leaked email from Steve Turek, the London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, threw the training received by council staff into doubt.
He said those on the one-day course were given “basic” knowledge of the importance and methods of risk assessments.
He said: “Our course information clearly states that the course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and understanding to undertake FRAs in simple premises such as offices, small retail and similar premises.
“The course is not designed to equip attendees to carry out FRAs in complex structures where a clear level of expertise is required.”
The South London Press revealed last week how a town hall officer had failed to spot fire risks in a block that shared a similar layout to Lakanal House.
The FRA for Perronet House at Elephant & Castle – conducted on April 27, five weeks before the Lakanal tragedy – found only “low” and “medium” fire risks.
But a later FRA, compiled by specialists Turner & Townsend on July 17, discovered “extreme” risks and demanded a raft of safety improvements.
Councillor Ian Wingfield, Southwark Labour opposition spokesman for housing, said: “In sending out undertrained staff to carry out the vital checks to make sure our tenants and leaseholders are safe, the administration has shown a callous lack of concern for their well-being.”
A Southwark spokesman said: “These intrusive inspections [by outside contractors] go beyond what is required in a fire risk assessment.
“After the Lakanal Fire we decided to review our approach to high-rise blocks.
“We carried out, on a risk assessed basis, more detailed intrusive and technical inspections carried out by independent experts, which involve looking at the fabric of the building, under ceilings and behind walls if necessary.”
Southwark has now pledged to carry out “intrusive” checks on its 175 high-rises this year.

Stop Press - Extra Extinguisher Refresher Course - Buckingham

2010-01-13T16:40:00.002Z

There will be a extinguisher refresher course (open to members and non-members alike) on Thursday 28th Jan at the Buckingham Hotel, Buckingham, North Bucks. Details can be found in the usual places or please contact me direct for details via grahamferris@ifeda.org

Extinguisher Refresher Course North of England

2010-01-12T14:08:00.001Z

Extra refresher course: As Stockport in April is full there will be an extra one day (BAFE approved) extinguisher refresher course at HE Woolley in Middlesbrough on Tuesday 27th April.

Lakanal House and Fire Risk assessments

2010-01-08T11:36:00.001Z

The following takes about 25 minutes to listen to - it is well worth it. Shocking really!

For anyone who may be interested that missed the radio 4 article today (Thursday 7th Jan) on fire risk assessments in high rise tower blocks, here is the link;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pky9h/Face_the_Facts_High_Rise_Low_Safety/
Regards to all,

Help for New and Non members

2010-01-08T08:57:00.002Z

IFEDA’s New Member Assistance Programme

If your company is involved in the supply of fire protection equipment and specifically the commissioning and maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers and you would like the support and guidance of a Trade Association which is specifically for the independently owned business, then ask yourself:-

· Would you like to be a member of an independent Trade Association i.e. IFEDA where every member is equal, based on the democratic principle of one member one vote. An Association, whose total objectives are to help, assist and fight for the interests of independently owned businesses – just like yours?
· Are you looking at the quality route to take your business forward in 2010 with ISO/BAFE SP101 accreditation?
· Do you know where to start?
If your answer to the first two questions YES and you scratch your head at the third then IFEDA can help.

Following updates and modifications to our long established Member Assistance Programme we are delighted to announce the launch of IFEDA’s Quality Assistance Scheme (QAS). This scheme is designed to help companies obtain ISO/BAFE accreditation whilst also being part of IFEDA and receiving all the guidance and support that belonging to a nationally recognised trade association brings.
By signing up to QAS you will receive:
· A personal visit from the IFEDA General Manager to set you on the right road.
· All documentation pertaining to your business and ISO 9001: 2008 (written with BAFE SP101 in mind).
· Full membership of IFEDA for 12 months
· Help & Assistance in achieving full BAFE approval to SP101/ST104.
· Professional help in developing a quality policy manual which relates to the company's business operations
· An audit to certify your company to ISO 9001 by a UKAS accredited certification body.
The main benefits of this scheme are that:
· You take less time out of your business setting up the documentation etc
· You get personal one to one help.
· The cost to your company is greatly reduced (e.g. the membership element may be paid for over 10 months by direct debit)
· There will be a much faster timescale for completion than if you arranged it yourself.

If you are interested please contact Graham Ferris, General Manager
on 02380 513326 or via email to grahamferris@ifeda.org

IFEDA: The Trade Association where your voice is heard and your interests are ours

Latest IFEDA Newsletter

2010-01-06T11:06:00.003Z

The latest newsletter with info about up and coming training, news from the AGM and fire safety breaches can be found at www.ifeda.org

For members there is an expanded version in the members section with a members competition.

Happy reading

Welcome New Members

2010-01-04T12:23:00.000Z

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following companies who have recently been granted full membership of IFEDA:-
· Direct Fire & Safety Ltd of St Helens, Merseyside
· The Walters Group of Milford Haven
· Guardian Security (SW) Ltd Exeter
· 3 Counties M&G Ltd of Haslemere Surrey
· Inferno Fire Safety & Security Solutions of Abertridwr, Caerphilly
· MDL Fireworks Ltd of Preston
· David Wright— Fire Protection Services of Beverley
· Fairhurst Ward Abbotts Ltd of Greenhithe Kent
· Fal Fire Protection Ltd of Penryn, Cornwall
· The Fire Company of Plymouth
We wish them all a long and fruitful association with IFEDA and as part of IFEDA’s services to members, in the New year we will have exciting news about assistance in attaining ISO/BAFE accreditation.
Details of, and the services offered by, new and established members can be found via the IFEDA website homepage www.ifeda.org and the ‘full members’ tab.

IFEDA AGM 2009

2010-01-04T11:20:00.001Z

The latest IFEDA National conference took place at the Charlecote Hotel near in Stratford upon Avon and attending members all agreed it was a day full of interesting and informative workshops/presentations. On the 20th anniversary of IFEDA’s inception the Chairman, Colin Payne, highlighted our many achievements over the intervening years not least in being the first fire trade association to achieve ISO 9001 and in 2004 becoming the first association to embrace BAFE approval for its members. He went on to state that in a difficult trading year membership had continued to grow and through the many different committees that Officers attended IFEDA would be, as always, at the forefront fighting for member’s interests and just as importantly campaigning to bring improvements where it can. As pioneers of the commitment to 3rd party accreditation through BAFE, IFEDA members were delighted to greet BAFE General Manager Stephen Adams and catch up with all of BAFE’s latest news and future intentions. Members also picked up some useful tips re ‘marketing on a budget’ as well as catching up with the latest Asbestos regulations and learning about an extremely useful software package for fire risk assessments, before finally taking part in an interesting discussion led by John Judd, Chairman of the IFE on the future of the fire service. For the members who were able to stay and enjoy the evening’s entertainment comedian Mickey Pugh had everyone chuckling into their dinners before the calories were bopped away until the early hours.

IFEDA Says: Be Careful Be Safe this Christmas

2009-12-18T15:14:00.002Z

Office and Home: Keep Safe this Christmas

The addition of Christmas decorations (though temporary) alters your fire risk assessment and potential fire hazards. To help you enjoy a happy and SAFE Christmas IFEDA has produced the following tip sheet: it could save your life.

Check that your smoke alarms are in perfect working order - can you remember the last time you changed the battery?
Have your portable fire extinguishers been serviced within the last twelve months WILL THEY WORK WHEN YOU NEED THEM and are your staff trained in their use?
Never remove batteries from smoke alarm to use in office equipment or children’s toys
Christmas Trees
* Place real Christmas trees securely in a sturdy base filled with water and check water level daily – metal/clamp stands cause trees to dry out and become flammable
* Keep tree away from candles, heaters, fireplaces or other heat sources
* Dispose of tree properly – never burn a real Christmas tree in the fireplace – due to highly
flammable resin/sap.
* Ensure artificial trees have been pre-treated (look for the British standard) to increase flame resistance

Christmas Lights
* Only buy Christmas lights marked with a British safety standard
* If using last years lights, make sure a competent person checks all connections and examines the wires for fraying - If in doubt, throw them out.
* Don’t overload sockets
* Unplug all Christmas lights and electrical appliances before leaving your home or going to bed.
* Ensure outdoor lights are suitable for outdoor use and are marked with a British standard
* Check all wiring and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
* Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture building up.
* Never use indoor extension leads outside and keep outdoor electrical connections above ground and out of puddles and snow.
* Ensure outside trees hung with Christmas lights are not touching power/phone lines.

Candles/ T Lights
* Keep them out of reach of children and pets
* If necessary, trim the wick to each time before burning
* Always use an appropriate candleholder placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface
* Keep burning candles away from drafts, vents and air currents
* Extinguish a candle if it smokes or flickers repeatedly or if the flame becomes too high
* Keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all times
* Do not burn a candle for longer than manufacturer recommends
* Extinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or container
* Never place a candle on top of a TV set and keep well away from curtains and decorations.
* Always extinguish candles before leaving the office/house or going to bed
* Remember hot wax burns!

If you have any questions or concerns about your Fire Safety (at work or home) including Fire alarms – Portable Fire Equipment and/or your workplace Risk-Assessment please check out www.ifeda.org/regions.htm for a list of companies near you who can help.

New Extinguisher Staff?

2009-12-18T11:52:00.002Z

For those of you taking on staff in the New Year, I have two places left on our 3 day (BAFE approved) initial fire extinguisher technician training course commencing 19th Jan in Fareham.

For course info and syllabus please see www.ifeda.org/training

Extra training date - refresher course

2009-12-18T09:01:00.003Z

Please note I have added another one day extinguisher technician (BAFE approved) training course on Tuesday 23rd Feb at our Stockport training centre. Course details and syllabus can be found at www.ifeda.org/training

Fire inspection leads to £7,500 fine - Ignorance is no excuse!

2009-12-18T08:55:00.001Z

ATS Euromaster, in Southampton, has been fined £7,500 after pleading guilty to charges relating to inadequate fire safety standards under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Proceedings were brought following a visit to the Southampton premises by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Services Fire Safety Officers, who found significant contraventions of fire safety measures within the building. These included:
Obstruction of a fire exit (£2,000 fine);
Failure to provide lighting in an escape route (£2,000 fine);
Insufficient fire safety training for the manager (£1,500 fine);
Failure to provide adequate means of giving warning in case of fire (£1,000 fine); and
Not having carried out a suitable fire risk assessment (£1,000 fine).
Speaking after the case, Assistant Chief Officer Steve Hamm, Head of Community Safety for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“We would like this case to act as a timely reminder to business owners and landlords that the Fire Safety Order is in place. The safety of the public is our primary concern.
The Service believes that this prosecution, together with the scale of the fine, gives a clear message to members of the business community of the need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with fire safety law.”
The company pleaded guilty to the five charges at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 2 November. Sentencing took place on Monday, 14 December before District Judge Callaway.
A spokesman for ATS Euromaster said:
“We have a strong health and safety record and are clearly disappointed with this isolated incident which occurred over two years ago. We treat matters such as this very seriously and took immediate steps to address the issues raised.”

High street retailer receives record fine following blaze

2009-12-17T09:49:00.001Z

The high street retailer New Look has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay £136,052 in costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the “RRO”).

It is the largest fine to date under the RRO.

London Fire Brigade prosecuted New Look following a serious fire at their Oxford Street store on 26 April 2007. Thirty fire engines and around 150 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze and crews remained at the scene for the next three days. The first call to the Brigade was from an office worker in an adjacent building. This delay meant that when crews arrived the fire had already developed and had broken through the second floor windows. Despite the building’s fire alarm sounding, it was reset on at least one occasion.

Over 450 people evacuated from the store and surrounding premises. A significant amount of Oxford Street was closed to traffic and the public which resulted in businesses being closed for a further two days after the blaze.
Following the fire, the Brigade carried out several fire safety inspections at the premises and found a substantial number of breaches of fire legislation. The most serious of these was an inadequate fire risk assessment which was found to have a number of failures, including no record of appropriate fire procedures such as the correct one to adopt when the fire alarm is activated.

The RRO requires the responsible person (in a workplace, the employer) to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and act on its findings.
Another significant breach was the insufficient training of staff which led to a delayed evacuation of the premises and staff being ill-prepared to respond to a fire or fire alarm signal. Staff did not use the appropriate fire exits to evacuate the public which meant that approximately 150 people were evacuated through the main entrance which was directly underneath the fire on the second floor

Other serious deficiencies included all of the basement fire exits being unavailable to members of staff and the public due to the failure of an interface between the swipe card system and the fire alarm. The swipe card system should have been connected to the fire alarm system and have deactivated the doors. The building was also found to have significant storage in escape routes on all floors.

Councilor Brian Coleman, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, said: “Good business management includes taking responsibility for fire safety, knowing the law and acting on it. This conviction shows that large companies are not exempt from prosecution and that London Fire Brigade will take action when businesses do not take their fire safety responsibilities seriously. Failure to comply with the law can, as this case has shown, result in a substantial fine.”
Sentencing of New Look took place at Southwark Crown Court on 25 November 2009 after they pleaded guilty to two breaches of the RRO.

Another IFEDA First for the Fire Industry

2009-12-14T16:02:00.004Z

Not only is the new edition of the IFEDA Service Manual now available on CD-Rom, as another IFEDA first for the fire industry it is now possible for IFEDA members' technicians (whilst on the road) to access the manual and all the servicing information it contains via IFEDA’s brand new INTRANET.
As long as your technicians have a suitable device to access the web and you have signed them up for a password, they can now call up the manual without having to phone in and find someone to load up the office cd version PLUS they can also access relevant technical memos and other equally useful documents such as the IFEDA guide to contract maintenance recently rewritten to take into account BS5306-3 : 2009 PLUS there is also a technicians forum available where they can discuss various topics or find the answers to those ‘burning’ questions saving you time and money with less down time —help is just a web enabled phone away.

IFEDA: concentrating on quality and delivering - we leave price gimmicks to others

IFEDA Training 2010

2009-12-14T11:14:00.002Z

IFEDA's training diary for 2010 re (BAFE recognized) fire extinguisher initial and refresher training as well as hose reels is now available via www.ifeda.org/training

Not shown there are extra refresher courses in Cornwall 13th 14th May and Middlesborough DTBC
Please contact info@ifeda.org for details etc

Fire hose reels - demand exceeds supply!

2009-11-02T08:53:00.003Z

Due to an urgent request IFEDA will be running a further fire hose reel re the requirements of BS671-3: 2000. The course runs for one day and finishes with a written exam. It will take place at our Stockport training centre on Friday 11th December and costs just £285 per person for non IFEDA members (£255 for members).

So if you have ever wondered why you are not covering this area of business - how often a hose reel should be checked - how large an area one hose reel covers or any other general hose reel question this is the course for you.

Please contact grahamferris@ifeda.org in the first instance.

Latest breach of RRO

2009-08-07T14:22:00.001+01:00

‘Death trap’ Accrington hostel landlord is rapped

1:21pm Friday 7th August 2009

A LANDLORD has been prosecuted for keeping a hostel described by firefighters as “a deathtrap”.

After problems were reported to Lancashire Fire and Rescue, fire safety specialists discovered hazards in the building in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

These included piles of rubbish in front of fire escape doors, which were also jammed shut.

Investigators judged the premises were so dangerous that people living there would be in grave danger if a fire broke out.

They immediately imposed a prohibition notice which meant no one was allowed on the premises.

Hazards also included fire extinguishers on display that were not working and which had previously been discharged as well as disconnected fire alarms.

John Cairns, fire safety officer with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Premises providing sleeping accommodation such as hotels, guest houses and care homes must make fire risk assessment a high priority.

“The risk of people being hurt or injured in a fire are much greater when they are asleep. The public have a right to expect safety at places they have paid to sleep.”

Landlord Jemshad Ahmed, 35, pleaded guilty at Hyndburn Magistrates’ Court to seven breaches of fire safety rules.

He was fined £670 per offence and ordered to pay court costs in full, more than £7,000 in total.

Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer Peter Holland said: “We are delighted that the magistrate has agreed with our assessment that the property was a death trap.”

Businesses needing help understanding fire safety law can contact find a list a suitable companies at www.ifeda.org

Fire Awareness Course 'train the trainer'

2009-08-05T18:07:00.000+01:00

Judging by the number of phone calls we get at the national office there is a great need for trainers to train the responsible person and or fire marshals - this course will give you the basic information and skills to do just that.
Please see www.ifeda.org/training.htm

Just £540 for members and £640 for non members. The cost includes all aspects of tuition including exam/certificate, refreshements and a buffet lunch each day: it does not include accommodation

Watch out! Norwich landlords warned of fire risks

2009-08-03T12:18:00.001+01:00

Landlords in Norwich who put the lives of tenants at risk by not maintaining smoke and fire alarms will be prosecuted, council chiefs have warned today.
It comes as landlord James Abergel was fined £1,000 at Norwich Magistrates Court following a fire at a bedsit property in Rosary Road, Norwich, where the fire alarm was switched off because it was malfunctioning. Abergel, 77, from Denbigh Road, pleaded guilty before city magistrates to four offences under housing management regulations. He was also ordered to pay £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £15. The court heard how Abergel had switched off the building's fire detection system because it was malfunctioning. He had then failed to switch it back on or call in the alarm maintenance company to fix the problem.Three fire crews were called to the fire at about 1.40am on February 13.Today, Ellen Alder, team leader for private sector housing at Norwich City Council, said she hoped Abergel's fine would be a warning to other landlords. “Thank goodness no-one was hurt and it was quite a small fire - it could have been extremely serious. The person whose room it was was out at the time but there were tenants in the building who had to escape.”Susan Smith, investigating officer, added that the council was currently investigating a number of cases where the landlord had not maintained or put in the correct fire detection system. “Putting tenants at risk is unacceptable and there is no excuse for not installing or maintaining fire alarms,” she said. A tenant of the fire-hit property on Rosary Road, who moved in shortly after the fire, said fire doors and alarms had been fitted. “I like it here, it's a safe place,” he said.Mike McCarthy, deputy chief fire officer, for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: “While many people now have good working smoke alarms installed, worryingly, there are many who still do not and who are running the dreadful risks associated with a fire in their home. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and that you check them regularly.”

RRO know your duty!

2009-07-31T15:39:00.000+01:00

Sonning landlord fined for fire safety breaches
July 31, 2009

A Sonning landlord has been fined £2,500 for putting tenants’ lives at risk after failing to take adequate fire safety precautions.
Peter Lewin appeared before Reading Magistrates on Thursday, July 9, when he was prosecuted by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority on two charges relating to a home at South View Avenue in Caversham.
Mr Lewin, of South Drive, admitted two charges of placing people at serious risk of death or serious injury from fire, after failing to ensure adequate fire safety arrangements were in place and failing to provide an appropriate fire alarm at the property.
He was fined £500 for a lack of fire safety arrangements and a further £2,000 for the fire alarm charge.
Mr Lewin was also ordered to pay £3,500 in costs.
The charges were brought against Mr Lewin, under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, after fire safety inspectors visited the house in South View Avenue in 2007.
The house was rented out to various tenants at the time and inspectors deemed the fire safety precautions inadequate and issued an enforcement notice demanding improvements.
The court heard how a second visit to the property in March last year found three of the required improvements were still not in place.
In summing up the case, District Judge Pritchard took
into account the fact Mr Lewin had carried out a fire risk assessment, as required by law, but had failed to provide an appropriate fire system – putting residents at risk.
The court granted Mr Lewin 12 months to pay the fines and costs, but warned he could face a six-month prison sentence if he failed to pay in time.
David Walden, technical manager for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This case illustrates the seriousness with which courts regard a failure to address fire safety in commercial premises.
“Those responsible for fire safety on their premises must take their responsibilities seriously – the law is clear on what is expected.
“Fire and rescue services are no longer required to issue fire safety certificates but we do carry out rigorous inspection programmes of commercial premises to ensure they are meeting the required standards.”

New IFEDA Training Course

2009-07-30T16:31:00.000+01:00

Looking for another income? Coming soon from IFEDA : Fire awareness trainers course i.e. train the trainer. Train fire marshals and all who have responsibility for a company's fire protection products and training. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Latest RRO Breach

2009-07-27T14:37:00.000+01:00

Notts businessman sentenced for fire safety breach
A NOTTS businessman has been fined and given a suspended sentence after breaching fire safety laws.
Michael Snow, who runs Treasure Trove Fairs, in Botany Park, Mansfield, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and fines of £24,000.
He was also told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £9,000.
Snow appeared at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Friday after pleading guilty to breaching fire safety laws at his premises, which were being used as an indoor car boot market.
During a routine inspection of the property Notts Fire and Rescue made some recommendations to Snow.
But, after a complaint, officers returned to the site and found that the improvements had not been completed.
Notts Fire and Rescue is now reminding all owners and occupiers of buildings that they could face legal action if they breach fire safety regulations.
Mark Huckerby, head of fire protection at Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are here to advise and support local businesses and are always willing to help to make sure they comply with the fire safety legislation.
"However, the public should continue to be reassured that we take any breaches of fire safety very seriously and will use legal sanctions where necessary.
"In this case, my officers had previously spent some time ensuring that the occupier was aware of his responsibilities and duties to ensure peoples safety and it is disappointing that he chose to place people at risk from fire."

RRO: Landlords Imprisoned for Fire Safety Breaches

2009-07-20T08:10:00.001+01:00

July 2009

Two landlords have been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs for breaching the fire safety legislation. The prosecution followed a fire on 31st March 2007 at a house converted into bedsits on Hampden Road, North London. Previous to the sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on 12th June 2009, Michael de Havilland and Sally Fox of Muswell Hill had pleaded guilty to several breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These breaches included: Inadequate fire detection systems; A lack of proper fire doors for bedrooms or the communal kitchen; No emergency lighting in the building’s stairway; A lack of fire fighting equipment i.e. fire extinguisher / fire blankets; No fire risk assessment available for inspection. A further inspection was arranged where an enforcement notice was issued, explaining that the breaches needed to be dealt with. But after further contact with the co-owners and further inspections over a number of months, inspecting officers found that no remedial work had been completed.
"This is our second prosecution resulting in a custodial sentence and again sends out a strong message to landlords and building owners," said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. "Our role is to keep Londoners safe, and where we see that you are not taking your legal fire safety responsibilities seriously, we will take action."

Latest IFEDA newsletter

2009-07-16T15:50:00.003+01:00

The latest edition of FireTalk IFEDA's quarterly newsletter can be found at www.ifeda.org/newsletter.htm with information on the latest RRO and asbestos legislation breaches, news on the AGM and member updates. For members there is a more comprehensive version in the members only area.

IFEDA/BFC Golf Weekend

2009-06-30T14:50:00.002+01:00

THE INAUGURAL IFEDA/ BFC

GOLF CHALLENGE

DATE 20th – 22nd NOVEMBER 2009

VENUE - THE MANOR & ASHBURY GOLF COMPLEX

OKEHAMPTON - DARTMOOR

1. The package includes rounds of golf on Friday, Saturday & Sunday - the accommodation is full board for the Friday & Saturday nights

2. There will also free use of buggies for golfers during the weekend.

3. Complimentary course planner, shoe bag etc....

4.Sunday afternoon will be prize giving with a complimentary buffet.

5. The whole package is an amazing value at just £140.00 per person

IFEDA members please email IFEDA for info

BFC members please email BFC for info

IFEDA AGM 2009 : Speakers announced

2009-06-23T13:34:00.001+01:00

At this year's AGM members will have the opportunity to catch up on the industries latest news with seminars from: John Judd - personal development with the IFE - Phil Toase and Stephen Adams the Chairman and General Manager of BAFE respectively giving all the updates from the newly independent and relocated BAFE, Kay Pendell-Smith - marketing for small businesses on a tight budget and finally Brian Halloran giving an updated presentation of the asbestos regulations.

IFEDA Fire Log Book 2009

2009-02-10T17:28:00.004Z

The I.F.E.D.A. Fire Logbook 2009
Rewritten, Updated and Expanded

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that a FIRE LOG BOOK to be kept at all business premises.

It is recommended that you bring this to your customers’ attention when carrying out a service visit.

If you supply logbooks not only are you able to generate additional income, you are also providing a valuable service to your clients.

The 34 page IFEDA log book is available to members @ just £3.50 + vat each (non-member version £8.00 + vat).
Also available to members is the comprehensive CD-Rom based log book with extra sections. This enables you delete sections which are not appropriate for a particular customer, copy extra tables as well as add your own logo and details, all for a one-off fee of £95.00 + vat

Sections included are:-

Visits by Fire Prevention Officer
The Fire Risk Assessment
Staff Training
Fire Alarm System,
Emergency Lighting,
Fire Extinguishers,
Fire Doors,
Electro-Magnetic Door Holders,
Internal & External Escape Routes,
Fire Hose Reels,
Other Fire Equipment,

N.B red text denotes ‘section included on cd-rom but not in the printed manual’

Cheap Sofas are Death Traps

2008-12-24T08:38:00.002Z

Deathtrap sofas are still on sale in south Essex
23rd December 2008
TRAVELLERS from Crays Hill are still selling potentially deadly furniture from Poland.
Men from Dale Farm are selling the deathtraps across south Essex, London and Cambridgeshire.
Essex Trading Standards spent months investigating the camp following a previous Echo expose into the dodgy trade, but closed the case, saying there was no evidence of sofas on the site.
Yet undercover reporters bought the dangerous furniture from an Irish traveller in a pub car park in broad daylight. The man bragged of selling up to 12 suites a day and supplying estate agents.
Posing as landlords, our reporters bought a black PVC suite containing foam which failed strict UK furniture fire safety regulations when tested by experts, under controlled conditions.
They cut out a piece of the foam and set fire to it to see if it met safety standards.
Dale Brockbank, of West Yorkshire Joint Services test house, where the experiment was conducted, said: “This foam was horrendous and led to escalating combustion which had to be extinguished because it was unsafe to continue.
“It was so badly made, they used off cuts of foam to save on cost.”
The sub-standard PVC suites originate from Poland where labels are attached, which falsely claim they meet UK safety standards.
However, they turn into toxic fireballs on contact with a flame, leaving unsuspecting families little time to escape choking fumes.
During a separate fire test done by the Echo, a two-seater sofa caught fire within 30 seconds of being exposed to a flame and was a fireball within four minutes.
In March 2006 our previous investigation found shop Furniture Store in Southernhay, Basildon, was selling similar suites for £269 a piece.
At the same time regular Polish HGV loads of the furniture were delivered to the traveller site.
We published pictures of suites stored at the camp and being hawked at a boot sale.
Furniture Store was ordered to pay £10,000 including costs and fines at Basildon Magistrates’ Court.
However, trading standards said no furniture was ever found at Dale Farm and stopped investigating.
Yet aerial photographs taken by an Echo photographer, since the trading standards probe show what appear to be suites concealed by tarpaulin on a number of caravan pitches at Dale Farm.

Want to go to jail? Then ignore the RRO

2008-12-10T16:02:00.001Z

First landlord in London imprisoned for fire safety breaches
21 October 2008
A landlord has been sent to prison in the first custodial sentence to be given in London under the new fire safety regulations.
Mr Mehmat Parlak was sentenced to four months imprisonment and his company, Watchacre properties limited, were fined £21,000 following conviction for serious breaches of the regulatory reform order (RRO).
The prosecution followed a fatal fire at a flat on Ruskin Road, Tottenham on 16 September 2007. After being removed from the building by firefighters, a man was taken to hospital but died later from his injuries.
Councillor Brian Coleman AM FRSA, Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority which runs the London Fire Brigade said “This fire resulted in a man dying and highlights why landlords and businesses must take their responsibilities under the regulatory reform order seriously. The London Fire Brigade works hard to bring irresponsible companies and individuals to court, which can as this case has shown result in a custodial sentence.”
Sentencing of the company and their Director Mr Parlak, of Wellington Road, Enfield took place at Wood Green Crown Court on 20 October after they pleaded guilty to eight breaches of fire safety.
The eight summonses were as follows:
Summons 1 – Article 9 – Failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons were exposed.
Summons 2 – Article 11 (1) – Failure to make and give effect to appropriate fire safety arrangements.
Summons 3 – Article 13 (1)(1) – Failure to provide appropriate fire fighting equipment.
Summons 4 – Article 13 (1)(a) – Failure to provide appropriate fire detection measures, namely adequate smoke alarms in the common parts of the premises.
Summons 5 – Article 14 (1) – Failure to ensure that routes to emergency exits from the premises and the exits were clear (in relation to the gas fired boiler).
Summons 6 – Article 14 (2)(a) – Failure to ensure that persons were able to evacuate the premises as quickly and safely as possible, in that the escape route was not properly protected (because the intermescent strip and cold smoke seal were missing from the top edge of the second floor habitable room and there were combustible materials stored in the exit route including a washing machine, television, clothing and furniture).
Summons 7 – Article 14 (2)(g) – Failure to ensure that there was adequate signage at the premises to indicate the emergency exit and route.
Summons 8 – Article 15 (1) - Failure to establish and give effect to appropriate procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent fire. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect on Sunday, 1 October 2006. The legislation makes businesses responsible for carrying out a self assessment of the fire risks in their premises, appoint a competent person and make staff aware of what they have to do in the event of a fire.